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Nationwide Commercial Motor Vehicle InvestigationsNationwide Commercial Motor Vehicle Investigations
Stopper & Associates, LLCStopper & Associates, LLCTruck & Bus Collision InvestigationsTruck & Bus Collision Investigations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR)Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR)& Commercial Drivers License (CDL) compliance& Commercial Drivers License (CDL) compliance
Forensic MappingForensic MappingLaser “Total Station” measurements. “Reflectorless” unit allows detailed scene Laser “Total Station” measurements. “Reflectorless” unit allows detailed scene
diagramming without interference with normal traffic flow. diagramming without interference with normal traffic flow.
Fatal Collision InvolvingFatal Collision Involving2 Chemical Tankers2 Chemical Tankers
Forensic Map with Forensic Map with Reconstruction AnalysisReconstruction Analysis
Rollover – Fatality involving two fuel tankersRollover – Fatality involving two fuel tankers
Forensic mapping of School Bus -Forensic mapping of School Bus -Refuse truck multiple fatalRefuse truck multiple fatal
Forensic mapping of crash vehicle Forensic mapping of crash vehicle & exemplar vehicle& exemplar vehicle
Crash Scene Forensic Mapping &Crash Scene Forensic Mapping &Reconstruction AnalysisReconstruction Analysis
Forensic map / Satellite PhotoForensic map / Satellite PhotoOverlay of Crash SceneOverlay of Crash Scene
Portable Performance Based Brake Testing*Portable Performance Based Brake Testing*Vehicle weight, brake balance, air pressure and brake force testingVehicle weight, brake balance, air pressure and brake force testing
*49 CFR 393.52(a)(4) approved test method*49 CFR 393.52(a)(4) approved test method
PBBT Testing– Transportation Research PBBT Testing– Transportation Research Center (TRC) – East Liberty, OHCenter (TRC) – East Liberty, OH
Stopper & Associates, LLCStopper & Associates, LLCTraining Law Enforcement & Collision Training Law Enforcement & Collision
Reconstruction Specialists in the USA & CanadaReconstruction Specialists in the USA & Canada
David Stopper holds a CDL for all classes of David Stopper holds a CDL for all classes of Commercial Motor Vehicles and is a registered Commercial Motor Vehicles and is a registered
Investigated by NTSB & Investigated by NTSB & Stopper & Assoc., LLCStopper & Assoc., LLC
National Transportation Safety Board, National Transportation Safety Board, Collision Between Truck-Tractor Collision Between Truck-Tractor Semitrailer and School Bus Near Semitrailer and School Bus Near
Mountainburg, AR on May 31, 2001,Mountainburg, AR on May 31, 2001, NTSB/HAR-02/03; PB2002-916203; NTSB/HAR-02/03; PB2002-916203;
Adopted September 4, 2002. Adopted September 4, 2002.
““A broken spring, which is difficult to A broken spring, which is difficult to detect, can reduce emergency-parking detect, can reduce emergency-parking brake forces or render the emergency-brake forces or render the emergency-parking brake inoperable, and the parking brake inoperable, and the broken spring pieces can be displaced, broken spring pieces can be displaced, thus shortening the pushrod stroke or thus shortening the pushrod stroke or preventing the automatic slack adjuster preventing the automatic slack adjuster from functioning. The extent of the from functioning. The extent of the broken spring problem is broken spring problem is undetermined.undetermined.
ConclusionsConclusions
It has become apparent there is a It has become apparent there is a general lack of knowledge as to the general lack of knowledge as to the critical nature of proper installation, critical nature of proper installation, lubrication and periodic inspection of lubrication and periodic inspection of these critical safety devices.these critical safety devices.
ConclusionConclusion
It is very important that collision It is very important that collision investigators and CMV maintenance investigators and CMV maintenance personnel be trained and become personnel be trained and become familiar with the operation and familiar with the operation and critical factors that can render ASA / critical factors that can render ASA / ABAs inoperative leading to ABAs inoperative leading to diminished brake force and/or brake diminished brake force and/or brake failure.failure.
Stopper & Associates works with Stopper & Associates works with internationally know experts in night internationally know experts in night time & low light visibility crashestime & low light visibility crashes
Worked with motor carriers to install Worked with motor carriers to install retroreflective materials for safety retroreflective materials for safety beforebefore it was required by law it was required by law
Stopper & Associates is unique in its Stopper & Associates is unique in its ability to analyze and measure the ability to analyze and measure the condition of retroreflective surfaces.condition of retroreflective surfaces.
CONSPICUITYCONSPICUITYARE YOU SURE OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING?ARE YOU SURE OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING?
CONSPICUITYCONSPICUITY
A MEASURE OF THE LIKELYHOOD A MEASURE OF THE LIKELYHOOD THAT A DRIVER WILL NOTICE A THAT A DRIVER WILL NOTICE A CERTAIN TARGET AT A GIVEN CERTAIN TARGET AT A GIVEN DISTANCE AGAINST A CERTAIN DISTANCE AGAINST A CERTAIN BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
Ref. NHTSA Driver Performance Ref. NHTSA Driver Performance Data BookData Book
ContrastContrast
The ratio of luminance from a target The ratio of luminance from a target to the luminance from the target’s to the luminance from the target’s surroundingssurroundings
ContrastContrast
The ratio of luminance from a target The ratio of luminance from a target to the luminance from the target’s to the luminance from the target’s surroundingssurroundings
ContrastContrast
The ratio of luminance from a target The ratio of luminance from a target to the luminance from the target’s to the luminance from the target’s surroundingssurroundings
ContrastContrast
The ratio of luminance from a target The ratio of luminance from a target to the luminance from the target’s to the luminance from the target’s surroundingssurroundings
Retroreflective Sheeting on Commercial Motor Vehicles
Duty of Motor Carriers:
49 CFR §393.13. Retroreflective sheeting and reflex reflectors,
requirements for semitrailers and trailers manufactured before December 1, 1993.
Motor carriers operating trailers, other than container chassis (as defined in §393.5),
have until June 1, 2001, to comply with the requirements of this section.
Motor carriers operating container chassis had until December 1, 2001, to comply with the requirements of this section.
FMCSA Recognizes benefits and FMCSA Recognizes benefits and requires a retrofit regulation:requires a retrofit regulation:
Conspicuity IssuesConspicuity IssuesPassenger vehicle vs. semi trailerPassenger vehicle vs. semi trailer
Under ride crashes Under ride crashes (This crash occurred before sunrise)(This crash occurred before sunrise)
David Stopper Measuring Reflectance with Gamma David Stopper Measuring Reflectance with Gamma Scientific Model 922 Retroreflectance Meter Scientific Model 922 Retroreflectance Meter
Fatal Night Trailer Under Ride CrashFatal Night Trailer Under Ride Crash
observer at approximately 20 – 23 observer at approximately 20 – 23 degree angle to light source / observerdegree angle to light source / observer
Retro reflective material wider Retro reflective material wider angularity – drops 50% or more at 45 angularity – drops 50% or more at 45 degree angle to light source / observerdegree angle to light source / observer
Both dependant on radiance or Both dependant on radiance or luminous intensity (brightness) of light luminous intensity (brightness) of light source.source.
Model 922 Retroreflective MeterModel 922 Retroreflective Meter
Many motor carriers combineMany motor carriers combinereflective materials with reflective materials with
advertising as well as the advertising as well as the required red/white pattern required red/white pattern
retroreflective taperetroreflective tape
CONSPICUITYCONSPICUITY
A MEASURE OF THE LIKELYHOOD A MEASURE OF THE LIKELYHOOD THAT A DRIVER WILL NOTICE A THAT A DRIVER WILL NOTICE A CERTAIN TARGET AT A GIVEN CERTAIN TARGET AT A GIVEN DISTANCE AGAINST A CERTAIN DISTANCE AGAINST A CERTAIN BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
Well maintained retroreflective tape Well maintained retroreflective tape improves safety and has saved livesimproves safety and has saved lives
David A. Stopper Juli R. StopperStopper & Associates, LLCMotor Carrier Safety – Highway Collision Research & ReconstructionWashington, DC Area Office6200 Evergreen Mountain RoadBroad Run, VA 20137540-347-0702 Fax 540-347-0763
Midwest & Southwest Operations – (Direct inquires to VA Office)Texas & Pacific Railroad Building221 W. Lancaster Avenue Suite 11008Fort Worth, TX 76102e-mailMobile: [email protected] Office: [email protected]
For more information on investigations or training:For more information on investigations or training: