Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Bicycle Versus Pickup Collision

Abstract

The Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Bicycle-Vehicle Incidents Presents Its Own Unique Set Of Challenges. Often, The Forensic Engineer Is Faced With A Limited Data Set For Determining Vehicle Impact Speed From The Physical Evidence Produced By A Bicycle Collision With An Automobile, Which May Not Be Of Issue For A Vehicle-To-Vehicle Collision At Similar Speeds. This Paper Analyzes A Collision Between A Light Duty Pickup Pulling A Tandem Axle Utility Trailer And A Bicycle Ridden By A Minor Child. There Were Allegations That The Pickup Was Traveling At A High Speed Above The Speed Limit, As Well As Passing Another Vehicle At The Time Of The Incident. In Order To Accurately And Dependably Determine The Speed Of The Ford F350 Pickup Involved In This Incident Event, This Forensic Engineer Elected To Recreate The Vehicle Locked Wheel Skidding Evidence That Was Produced During The Incident Event And Photographically Recorded By Police Investigators. The Dynamic Skid Testing Technique, Test Equipment, And General Test Procedures Used To Accurately Determine Vehicle Speeds For This Incident Event, And How It Can Be Applied To Similar Collision Events Are Discussed In This Paper