C-2

Group: Defense- Scenario 1 Period: 6 Group Members: Alex McCullough, Noah Feit

Group Contract:

4/19: We created a contract (somewhat different than the template) and agreed to adhere to its contents. We began to review the facts and the crash overview. 4/20: Today, we met with the agents from the Fatal Crash Investigation Unit from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. We took part in an activity in which we determined the speed of the car prior to the skid (laid down by the lead investigator). 4/21: We went to the crash scene with the data and took pictures. Because cars were in the intersection, we could not reenact the scene, but we discovered some environmental factors that we could potentially use to our advantage in the trial. 4/22: Today, we divided up the work for the weekend. We researched the areas and found the speed limits. Alex figured out the distances of the skid marks and converted them into feet/sec and mph. I, Noah, was responsible for laying out the calculations. 4/26: Today we took the measurements and calculated the initial speed of MV2 using the formulas given to us by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. We are making good headway on the case. We are better seeing the varying perspectives on the case and how math can be manipulated. 4/27: Today we learned how to measure crush energy in a lab, and began to calculate the speeds of both the automobiles involved in our accident. 4/28: Today we determined the speeds on both roads and what each driver could have been legally going. In class, we learned about measuring crash energy. 4/29: Today we measued the road's coefficient of fricton. We will unfortunately have to redue this calculation as the surface we used, we feel, is insufficient. We completed the Reaction Time Lab. We read over the Liabilty information. Over the weekend we will be revisiting the intersection to collect some more data (the contents of which we wil not disclose until 48 hrs prior to the trial). 4/30-5/2: Today, we went to the intersection again to measure the angle of sight based on the diagram (which we scaled to the actual intersection measurements). We finished most of our calculations, but realized that we made a slight error in calculating initial velocity. We are beginning to organize the trial. 5/3: Today, we are touching up our calculations and posting. We are better organizing our calculations for the class to see. 5/4: Today, we are preparing the trial, reviewing the prosecution's calculations and assertions.

















Evidence __Reaction Time Lab-__ Data:** (Based on Noah and Mac)
 * Purpose:** ** To determine an average reaction time of a human so that we can account for this time for our car crash reconstruction.
 * Calculations:**
 * Interpretation of Data: This data can help us determine more exactly where MV1 was when he began to break. By using his speed, we can find the spot where he first saw MV2 and began braking (about .2 seconds before the skid-marks were actually made). By determining how long before the crash the driver of MV1 realized he was about to crash and coupling this information with the driver's reaction time, we can calculate how long the driver of MV1 had to stop and what distance the driver of MV2 traveled, assuming he was traveling at a constant speed. In reality, the likelihood is that the driver of MV2 was traveling at a greater speed than 38.3 mph given that this was his speed of impact. Naturally, whether or not its your fault, you're going to slow down to some degree prior to being hit. **

Purpose: To determine the coefficient of friction between a rubber tire and a road so that we can determine the speed of the car. Data:**
 * __Braking Coefficient of Friction lab-__
 * Calculations:

Interpretation of Data:** This data gave us a coefficient of friction that we used to determine the speed of MV1 based on the skid marks on the road. The coefficient of friction and gravity gave us the acceleration of the car, which we used in the equation Vi = √ 2ad to find speed of the car when it first started skidding. Prior to this lab, we found that the coefficient of friction of the road was 0.729, based on the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Car Crash Unit's calculation. Thus, our drag factor is confirmed based on more modern and effective technology.


 * __Measuring Crush Energy Lab-__

Procedure:** Measuring crush energy of the crash will enable us to calculate the speed of each car prior to crashing. By determining the total CE and plugging it into KEi = KEf + CE, we will determine the speed of MV1 prior to the collision.

1999 Toyota Camry LE: 105.2 inches 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid: 106.3 inches **
 * Wheel Bases:










 * Interpretation of Data:** By finding the crush energy of our crash we are able to find the speeds of the cars just prior to impact and just after impact of the collision.

2006 Honda Civic Hybrid:


 * ~ Interior Dimensions ||~ Details ||
 * **Second Leg Room (in)** || 34.6 ||
 * **Front Head Room (in)** || 39.4 ||
 * **Second Head Room (in)** || 37.4 ||
 * **Second Shoulder Room (in)** || 52.4 ||
 * **Passenger Volume (ft³)** || 90.9 ||
 * **Front Shoulder Room (in)** || 53.6 ||
 * **Second Hip Room (in)** || 51.0 ||
 * **Passenger Capacity** || 5 ||
 * **Front Leg Room (in)** || 42.2 ||
 * **Front Hip Room (in)** || 51.9 ||


 * ~ Exterior Dimensions ||~ Details ||
 * **Height, Overall (in)** || 56.3 ||
 * **Track Width, Rear (in)** || 60.2 ||
 * **Length, Overall (in)** || 176.7 ||
 * **Liftover Height (in)** || - TBD - ||
 * **Min Ground Clearance (in)** || - TBD - ||
 * **Wheelbase (in)** || 106.3 ||
 * **Track Width, Front (in)** || 59.0 ||
 * **Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)** || 69.0 ||

1999 Toyota Camry LE:


 * **Exterior** ||
 * **Length:** 188.5 in. || **Width:** 70.1 in. ||
 * **Height:** 55.4 in. || **Wheel Base:** 105.2 in. ||
 * **Curb Weight:** 3131 lbs. ||
 * **Interior** ||
 * **Front Head Room:** 38.6 in. || **Front Hip Room:** 54 in. ||
 * **Front Shoulder Room:** 56.2 in. || **Rear Head Room:** 37.6 in. ||
 * **Rear Shoulder Room:** 56.1 in. || **Rear Hip Room:** 54.1 in. ||
 * **Front Leg Room:** 43.5 in. || **Rear Leg Room:** 35.5 in. ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Luggage Capacity:** 14.1 cu. ft. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Maximum Seating:** 5 ||

Claim: The other car was speeding. He was in a 35 mph zone going 38.3 and was probably going faster prior to this. The speed limit starts when you pass the sign and MV2 had not yet passed the sign.

Trooper Dan McDonald mentioned signs that changed the speed limit – 25 mph to 35 mph, or 60 mph to 70 mph on the freeway, for example. You should stay at the initial speed until you hit the sign with the new speed, he said.
 * Q:** At what point does a speed limit sign take effect? Is it when the driver obtains a visual of the sign, or is it an imaginary line you cross as you pass the sign?
 * A:** It's the imaginary line when you cross as you pass the sign, according to State Patrol troopers.

Bibliography: http://www.thecarconnection.com/specifications/honda_civic-hybrid_2006_cvt-with-navi_dimensions http://www.edmunds.com/used/1999/toyota/camry/10048/specs.html http://www.todaysvision.com/eyexamangle.htm http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/171324.asp