News

The Institute’s newsletter ‘Contact’ is distributed quarterly, and provides a less formal arena of communication. ‘Contact’ aims to keep the membership informed of details of forthcoming events, seminars, meetings and test days, etc., together with news of matters discussed and agreed at Council meeting. ‘Letters to the Editor’ and short articles are always welcome and should be forwarded to newsletter@itai.org 

Members can access the full 'Contact' once logged in, however, we are pleased to offer highlights below, for all to view.

As well as our Contact newsletter, below are some recent news articles. If you know of more please inform our webmaster@itai.org

RoadSafe Technology Live

11-12 JULY 2023

4 EVENTS. ONE LOCATION!

DriverAssist.Tech is bringing together a network of businesses that align with the vision of the ‘Safe System’ approach with vehicle and road safety technology in mind. This is a unique opportunity for industry leaders to network and to demonstrate the benefits of advanced technologies in the automotive and highways industries today, such as:

  • Driver Assistance Technology
  • Driver Awareness
  • Highway Maintenance
  • Fleet management
  • Road risk management
  • Emergency services
  • Trade associations

What makes this event different:

ü  Over 5 kilometres of track, sub-sectioned with white lines and painted 3-lane highway.

ü  ADAS test targets are available for ACC, AEB, Reverse AEB, Auto Park, SCW, FCW, LKA, and other advanced driver assistance features.

ü  Demo your products LIVE

ü  Interactive networking opportunity with quality contacts

ü  4 events. One location!

RoadSafe Technology Live is supported byRoadSafe and is promoted by Driving For Better Business (DFBB).

  • See attached, poster & track plan.

If you’re interested in demonstrating your products at the event and would like further information, please contact me at taran@driverassist.tech or call me on +44 (0)1993 209098.


CRASH DAY 2023 - 8th June, Darley Moor

https://www.itai.org/event-5117164

The Institute’s Crash Day will take place on 8th June, 2023, at Darley Moor.   Details are in the link above, further details to follow.

The Crash Day Committee are arranging the crashes and events for the day, and this is a call for submissions regarding suitable research projects which could be incorporated into the day. 

If you have any particular subject that you think could be researched as part of the Crash Day, the Committee will consider it and if suitable incorporate it into the events at Darley Moor.

Submissions for research projects are required before the closing date of 1st March, 2023.  Please forward any proposals to me, at iwhite@nwtsltd.co.uk.

DfT call for evidence on options to streamline driver licensing and support jobs

A Government consultation/call for evidence regarding driver licensing changes has been published due to the shortage of HGV/van drivers.  It suggests that people could be permitted to drive a vehicle up to 7.5 tons on normal licences (‘B’ licence), with no additional training/licence required. This would also include the driving of mini buses carrying 16 passengers. PACTS has concerns of the safety implications if this were to be implemented.

The National Road Safety Committee are planning to discuss this in an online meeting on Tuesday 11 October 2pm-3.30pm. A PACTS representative will attend. As a member of PACTS RUBWP you’re invited to forward key points to David.davies@pacts.org.uk before noon Tuesday 11 October on that can be included in the response.  PACTS has prepared a list of key questions which you may like to use to frame your response.The consultation closes on 28 October.

Project Edward - Every Day Without A Road Death

Project EDWARD 17-21 October 2022 Week of Action

POLICE AND PCCs LEND SUPPORT
 
Police chiefs and forces across the UK – along with Police and Crime Commissioners – are backing the week of action for Project EDWARD – Every Day Without A Road Death – which launches with its most ambitious week of events to promote good practice in road safety.
 
Three road trips will criss-cross the country from Monday to Friday visiting the very best examples of road safety projects across England and Wales. Along the way, some of the most influential thought leaders in road safety will be invited to come along for the ride and join the team to share their insights and experience – among them, numerous police representatives. 
 
Wednesday 19 October is National Safe Speeds Day, and the National Roads Policing Operations and Intelligence and Investigation (NRPOII), the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissions (APPC) have expressed their support.
 
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing says: “I am fully supportive of this year’s National Safe Speeds Day on Wednesday 19 October. Once again, I welcome the efforts by members of the Project EDWARD team to highlight the benefits for all road users of understanding and choosing speeds that are legal and safe.
 
“For a 24-hour period starting at 0700 on Wednesday 19 October police officers all over the UK will build on the excellent work they already do and focus their efforts even more to encourage compliance with speed limits, because we know lower speeds mean fewer road deaths.
 
“As well as delivering vital road safety benefits, lower driving speeds help to improve quality of life, especially in urban areas, as they reduce emissions, fuel consumption and noise.
 
“I urge you to ensure you always drive at speeds that are legal and safe, not because you might otherwise get caught - but because you recognise it as the right thing to do, remember that speed limits are just that, a limit not a target. By doing so we can all play a vital part in reducing unnecessary death and serious injury on our roads.”
 
Katy Bourne, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners lead for road safety, says: “Every 22 minutes someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads. These figures are a stark reminder that more needs to be done to make our roads safer. I am determined to drive forward progressive and lasting change, by ensuring that police have all the tools they need to understand how and why collisions occur and also educating the public on how they can protect themselves and others as road users.
 
“As the APCC National Lead for Road Safety, I am delighted to support Project EDWARD as it continues to raise the profile of road safety year on year.”
 
Katy Bourne is involved in events in Brighton on Monday 17 October on impairment and on vulnerable road users. Throughout the week, Police and PCCs are joining events in Telford, Merseyside, Durham Oxford, Rugby and Cardiff.
 
This year Project EDWARD is being delivered by Projects Zero Limited. Sponsors and partners are Nextbase UK; Westcotec; D.tec International; GEM Motoring Assist; HCC Solicitors; DriveTech, from the AA; Jenoptik Traffic Solutions; Webfleet; Bosch Mobility Solutions; StarTra: KIA; Gridserve; Driving for Better Business; National Highways
 
Full details of events, activity, resources, supporters and sponsors can be found on the Project EDWARD website www.projectedward.org  and via #ProjectEDWARD on social media.
 
Media contact: Becky Hadley, becky.hadley@hadstrong.com 
 
Project EDWARD: our vision to 2030
Our work will continue to be guided by the Safe System and the goad of a road transport system free from death and serious injury. We will continue to provide a multi-stakeholder platform to celebrate the success that can follow from implementing the latest research. Working with like-minded partners from across different sectors, we will share good practice in road safety and spread the best ideas, both in the UK and in other parts of the world. As a result, we believe we can make a contribution towards improving the quality of live for communities everywhere and make the roads safer.

Projects Zero operates across transport, healthcare and sustainability sectors. Using the proven success of Project EDWARD as its benchmark initiative, Projects Zero seeks to provide a multi-stakeholder platform for sharing success where zero is the ultimate goal: the reduction of diseases, pollution and inequality, and supporting sustainable living.

PACTS - Remote Driving Consultation

PACTS were asked by the Law Commission to respond to a consultation document regarding the introduction of new laws to be in place for / when remote driven vehicles are introduced in to this country. 

The consultation document [available << HERE >>] from the Law Commission included a number of questions to which PACTS have responded within
<< this document >>.

Drivers who cause death now face life in prison

As from Tuesday 28th June 2022, The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act increases the maximum penalty from 14 years imprisonment to life to drivers who cause death by dangerous driving or by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May campaigned for an increase in the maximum sentence for causing death from 14 years to life and proposed the changes in 2017 after a consultation with interested parties.

It has taken 5 years to eventually come into force.

How do you foresee these changes affecting the work of police and private accident / collision investigators in the UK?

Here's a link to the Government Circular on this.

The Queen's Speech

PACTS briefing on the content of the Queens speech can be found << HERE >>

PC-Crash Training - Discounted for ITAI Members

Up and Coming Training Sessions in PC-Crash

Members may be interested to know the following that North West Technical Services is offering training modules in PC-Crash.  

The up and coming modules are:

Module 3 – Kinetics -      4/5/19 May

Module 1 – Draw -          15/16/30 June

Module 2 CCTV -             6/7/21 July

Members of the Institute get discounted rates, and those that are interested in PC-Crash but do not have copies of the program are welcome on the Modules.  We can arrange for copies of the program to be opened for a time limited period to cover training for those that are interested. 

Further information can be found at www.nwtsltd.co.uk 

ETSC Online Event [see below] - Presentations

Viewed via: https://etsc.eu/join-etsc-and-roadpol-on-16-march-for-two-online-events-on-enforcement/

Wrex 2023 Schedule Announced:

The safety of private e-scooters in the UK

Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety [Pacts] has published the above report.

The independent report, funded by The Road Safety Trust, draws together research provided by project partners and casualty data for Great Britain in 2021. This shows at least 900 casualties, including11 fatalities. It considers how legalisation is developing in mainland Europe and presents recommendations for how e-scooters could be regulated should the UK Government choose to legalise their use.

Download the report here.

Hoped for improvements in Road Safety using Dash Cam Footage

Funded by The Royal Safety Trust, Keele University researchers are working alongside Lincolnshire Police to explore how ‘dash cam’ technology can be used to reduce road offending and improve road safety.

Further details << HERE >>

Forensic Collision Investigation - A Primer for Courts

The judicial primers project is a unique collaboration between members of the judiciary, the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The primers have been created under the direction of a Steering Group initially chaired by Lord Hughes of Ombersley who was succeeded by Dame Anne Rafferty DBE, and are designed to assist the judiciary when handling scientific evidence in the courtroom. They have been written by leading scientists and members of the judiciary, peer reviewed by practitioners and approved by the Councils of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

The aim of this primer is to assist the judiciary and legal professionals in understanding the principles and practice of the collection and analysis of evidence from a road collision, as presented in the courts.

The writing group included members and previous members of ITAI.

You can view and download the full document << HERE >>

Two events on enforcement from ETSC and ROADPOL

16 March 2022 - 10.00 and 14.00 CET

ETSC is teaming up with ROADPOL, the European roads policing network to organise two complementary online events on the topic of enforcement.

Both events will be in English, and on the Zoom platform, using the same link.

ETSC Online Event – How traffic law enforcement can contribute to safer roads, 10.00-12.30 CET


This online event will focus on speed enforcement, distraction, the non-wearing of seatbelts and cross-border enforcement.

ETSC will present its latest PIN report on enforcement. There will also be presentations from the European Commission, the Netherlands (tbc), Spain (tbc), Poland and ROADPOL.

ROADPOL Workshop on Enforcement, 14.00-16.00 CET


This workshop will include the following presentations:

Psychological insights into traffic rule compliance – Prof. Dr. Christine Sutter, Head of Faculty Traffic Science / Traffic Psychology, German Police University

At a glance: PIN Flash Report 42 How traffic law enforcement can contribute to safer roads – Jenny Carson, ETSC

Ideal Policy for a Technical Enforcement System on Speeding – Tasos Ashikkis, Cyprus Police, Head of Preparation Team ROADPOL Safety Days

Digital Enforcement Mobile Use – Marcel Masselink, Police Inspector, Product Owner Verkeer Plus

These events will be held in English using the Zoom platform. Connection details will be sent before the events to all participants.

<< Register HERE >>

 

24th to 26th May 2022, NEC Birmingham. Free entry via https://cv2022.smartreg.co.uk/Visitors/Visitors/register

ITAI at Leica's Public Safety Open House Event


ITAI will be presenting at this event.

Location: Hexagon House, Michigan Drive, Tongwell, Milton Keynes, MK15 8HT

A number of presentations will be made by external guest speakers and bodies on numerous topics.

Agenda

Tue 26th April - Crash

Wed 27th April - Crime

Thu 28th April - Security, Military and Defence

Leica's experts will be on hand to meet you in person, and to run workshops not solely advantageous to those within the LGS eco-structure.

Product update announcements and hands-on demonstrations will take place of all the key solutions.

Question and Answer sessions, and importantly, “tell us what you need” opportunities to shape the products and software for your expertise.

For more details and to book your place please visit:  https://connect.leica-geosystems.com/public-safety-open-house

Forensic Collision Investigation Primer

The Royal Society’s science and law programme brings together scientists and members of the judiciary to discuss and debate key areas of common interest and to ensure the best scientific guidance is available to the courts.

They have formed a judicial primers project which is a unique collaboration between members of the judiciary, the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. These are designed to assist the judiciary when handling scientific evidence in the courtroom with the primers have been written by leading scientists, peer reviewed by practitioners, and approved by the Councils of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

The primers are designed to provide an easily understood and accurate position on the scientific topic in question, as well as considering the limitations of the science, challenges associated with its application and an explanation of how the scientific area is used within the judicial system. The primers are created under the direction of a Steering Group chaired by Dame Anne Rafferty and distributed to courts in conjunction with the Judicial College, the Judicial Institute, and the Judicial Studies Board for Northern Ireland.

The first five primers have now been published, with the next being ‘Forensic Collision Investigation’ being published, hopefully by the end of March. The authors being 3 eminent members of our Institute, Dick Lambourn, Peter Jennings and Martin Langham.

The primer is a comprehensive document and there is no doubt that a wise judge or counsel will use it when questioning the expert in the witness box. So, my advice is, when it is available, read and digest it.

When the primer is published, we will provide a link so that all can read it.

James Keenan

Chairman


ETSC Online Event – e-Scooter Safety: From research to action – Held on 25th January 2022

This online event explored current thinking and understanding of e-scooter safety.

The agenda can be found here.

Please click the time links for the YouTube links abd the remining links for more information on each presentation:

12:10 – Sarah Lynch – European Commission – DG Move – e-scooters and road safety

29:07 – Mehdi Hocine – European Commission – DG Grow – e-scooter technical regulation

44:22 – Margaret Winchcombe – PACTS – e-scooters in the UK

57:49 – Tanja Hohenstein – German Road Safety Council – e-scooters in Germany

1:12:37 – Bjørn Olsson – Danish Road Safety Council – e-scooters in Denmark

1:25:36 – Ellen Townsend – ETSC

1:32:53 – Panel discussion

Driver Found Not Guilty - Investigating Team Critscised

Please follow this link https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19859873.336463746/ for the facts, as reported.

This follows on from a recent article in our Contact Newsletter regarding the need to obtain best evidence.

PC-Crash Training - Discounted for ITAI Members

PC-Crash Schedule of Training Modules

North West Technical Services Ltd is pleased to announce that the next two courses in PC-Crash which will be:

Module 1 – Draw Course on 8,9 and 23rd March, 2022

Module 2 – CCTV Course on 6,7 and 21st April, 2022.

The standard cost for each of these training programs is £600.00 plus VAT, however NWTS Ltd will offer a 10% discount to applicants who can show a valid membership of the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators. 

There is, therefore, a significant advantage in being a member of ITAI, if circumstances required the application to be certified as a Competent User of PC-Crash.

The courses consist of 2 days of training using Case Studies followed by a review day, which includes a short exam.  The candidates are also required to produce short projects, to ensure that the training has been understood. The time for the combined the projects should not be more than 2-3 hours.

For booking and for details about the remaining training planned for 2022, please visit the NWTS Ltd website, at www.nwtsltd.co.uk where further details about the courses can be found. 

ITAI in the News

The overall knowledge and experience of ITAI members is vast, it is the largest UK "collection" of road traffic accident / collision experts, with members that are experts in all aspects of the subject.

After ITAI were approached recently one of our council members, Ian White, assisted the BBC.

Please click <HERE> for details of how Sussex Police are reviewing the death of two sisters in 1999.

Season’s Greeting from ITAI

As 2021 draws to a close, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all our members, webinar presenters, sponsors and friends for your help and support in working towards promoting road safety and improving the technical knowledge and skills of all involved in the field of road accident investigation.

As you will be aware this Institute has introduced 1-hour long webinars and we plan to continue to hold them on a regular basis via zoom.  If any of you would like to give a short presentation, then please let our General Secretary know at gensec@itai.org

We have taken into account members comments regarding the transfer process to Associate and Full membership and understand the odious task of putting together the 2500 words essay to accompany the selected 2 case files.  To that end, without extracting from the quality of assessment, we have amended our transfer process and withdrawn the need for the essay and have replaced it with a Professional Discussion between the applicant and the assessors which will take place via zoom.  The Assessment Process for AMITAI and MITAI can be found on the "Join" web page.

Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all at our Crash and Research Day at Darley Moor motorcycle Race circuit on 9th June 2022.

James Keenan

Chairman

Assistance to Coventry University

As a result of the Institute’s involvement in the INSTANT Project (In-Situ Pedestrian Collision Framework for Improved Triage and Forensic Analysis), both Andy Salt of West Midlands Police and Ian White of ITAI have given lectures to the Post Graduate Group at Coventry University, who are working on the Project. The students include both Mechanical and Biomechanical Engineers, who are looking at methods by which photographic evidence and data at site can be used by paramedics to prepare the A & E Departments for the severity of the injuries suffered by the pedestrian. Hopefully, it will enable the A &E Departments to have the correct medical equipment available when the casualty arrives at hospital.

The lectures included how the Collision Investigation Unit and Traffic Officers evaluated the scene, and the type of information which they can record. They also covered the evaluation of vehicle damage including a demonstration of a method for predicting occupant displacement in a vehicle when belted and unbelted.

Since then, Andy and Ian have had further Zoom Meetings with the biomechanical students, and have given them some direction with respect to research papers, as well as the details of members of the Institute and associated organisations who may be able to assist the team with the development of a software program for use by paramedics to report on the estimated impact speed. That will hopefully allow the severity of injury to be anticipated by the A & E Department.

This is an ongoing exercise where the Institute is assisting in improving the prospects for the recovery of casualties in Road Traffic Accidents.

ITAI CRASH DAY!

Covid restirctions permitting, we are pleased to announce that we have a confirmed date for our next crash day.

So put Thursday 9th June 2022 in your diary and click << HERE >> to register for your FREE place. Details of events to follow.

PACTS conference:

Zero carbon and zero road deaths – does less traffic mean safer traffic?

Please click <HERE> to view the conference and download the presentations.

Reducing Road Deaths Among Young People

You can now view the full [2 hour] series of presentations from the recent online 'conference' via this link.

Making Roads Safer for Older Drivers

The Older Drivers Task Force have contributions from: Autoliv - Department for Transport - DVLA - Hadstrong PR - Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport Safety (PACTS) - RoadSafe - RAC Foundation - CAMC – Warwick University - IAM RoadSmart – RoSPA - Manchester Metropolitan University - and other private individuals. 

The Older Drivers Task Force was originally commissioned in 2016 to make its recommendations, acknowledging the importance of people living an active and healthy life into older age, and that age itself does not give an indicator of how fit a person is to drive. The aim is to support older drivers to continue to drive while they are still safe to do so.

Recent studies show that:

  • Older drivers (70+) do not pose a significant risk to other road users, but their relative frailty means that they are over-represented in serious crashes – particularly those over 80
  • For drivers over 80, the rate of being killed or seriously injured, per licence held, is as high as for those aged 21-29
  • Serious injuries among the young reflect inexperience; for older drivers it’s about their fragility
  • We have an ageing population so expect huge increases in licences held by older drivers
  • So older driver deaths will increase if we do not take decisive action now
  • Car driver deaths in the 70-79 age group are forecast to increase by 40% over the next 20 years, and by more than a quarter in the 80+ age group

The full report can be obtained from: https://roadsafetyfoundation.org/project/safe-driving-into-old-age/

New Index Reveals Cost of Complacency on UK Road Death

Over the last decade, the cost of complacency on Britain’s roads has resulted in 40,000 unnecessary deaths and serious injuries.

The new Road Safety Index (http://index.agilysis.co.uk) compares the performance of local authorities across Great Britain, identifying how weak results over the last decade have resulted in an unacceptable level of death and injury. It also compares the cost of carrying on with a ‘business as usual’ scenario for the next ten years with the effort required to reach the global target of a 50% reduction by 2030.

In 2020, the United Nations General Assembly declared a decade of action on road safety and called for member states to work to reduce road deaths to 50% of their current level by 2030. The data presented here will help community leaders and activists to understand the scale of the challenge and the inexcusable cost of failing to act over the coming decade.

Road Safety report <Link>

Dutch data extraction breakthrough could lead to better
road crash investigations

The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), a Dutch government institution, says it is the first research organisation to successfully read and publish the encoded driving data stored in Tesla vehicles, beyond what is available via the Event Data Recorder (EDR). Read more... [external link]

2021 EVU CONFERENCE

Council member Ian White attended the 2021 conference via zoom from 17th October.

The following is a short summary of some of the topics covered at the Conference.

New General Safety Regulations (GSR) are being proposed by the EU and their requirements for black boxes from 2022 will be based upon the existing United Nations and American Specifications which are out of date.

As the UK is no longer in the EU, the Government with some assistance from the PACTS Committee (on one of which Ian represents ITAI), are also looking at our own version of GSR which hopefully is going to more draconian than the present suggestions from the EU. In particular, we would like to see a higher level of scientific data to assist in Road Traffic Accidents, and the EVU Sub-Committee on EDRs has a similar objective. Since it is difficult to persuade the 26 countries in the EU to agree to a finalised procedure, the EVU Sub-Committee on EDRs are very keen to work with the UK on the generation of a GSR formula in Britain, which may persuade the EU to invest in a higher level of scientific data in future EDRs.

There were a number of papers regarding Autonomous Vehicles, including work done in the Netherlands on downloading data from Tesla vehicles.

There was also some interesting research in Germany regarding E-scooter safety based upon trials that had been carried out. The German Company has been put in contact with the PACTS Committee as there is obviously a benefit in combining their research with our ongoing assessment of E-scooter safety.

There were many more interesting papers during the Conference, but the above are the points which Ian felt would be of interest to the ITAI Members.

Here is a list of all the presented papers.

Changes to HGV and bus driving licences and tests from
15th November 2021

There will be changes to the way driving tests work for heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and bus drivers from 15 November 2021. Find out how the changes affect you. More information on the Government web site.

New rules for towing a trailer with a car from
15th November 2021

There will be new rules about towing a trailer or caravan with a car from 15 November 2021. Find out how the changes affect you. More information on the Government web site.

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)

ITAI are represented on, and assist with, a number of PACTS groups.

The last Transport Safety Working Party was held on Thursday 23rd September, 2021, and covered a number of interesting subjects, council member Ian White as provided this summary:

Euro NCAP for Vans

Matthew Avery from Thatcham gave an interesting talk in Van Safety, where he contrasted the standard fitting of ADAS systems to cars to the lack of systems fitted to vans. 

NCAP have started 5 performance levels for vans, with most present vehicles falling into the non-recommended category.  The best 3 vans for having standard ADAS fittings were the VW Transporter, Ford Transit and the Mercedes Vito. 

E-scooters

The fatality rate on e-scooters appears to be 7 times higher than on bicycles.  63% of accidents are occurring with riders who have ridden an E-scooter for less than 9 times, and there have been 100 scooter injury crashes to date in the UK, of which 7 were fatal, and 42 were serious.

GSR ii – General Safety Regulations

A number of members spoke about GSR ii, where the UK is generating its own set of regulations to mirror the present EU rules, with certain modifications.  There is a time limit on the construction of the new GSR, which formed part of the Brexit Agreement with the EU. 

It is anticipated that in time GRS ii will be a higher standard for vehicle construction than the present EU rules. 

Online Event - closed

Reducing Road Deaths among Young People

Online Event - 28 October 2021 - 14.30 - 16.30 CEST

This online event will explore how to reduce road deaths among young people, in particular in light of the upcoming revision of the EU Driving Licence Directive.

There will be a welcome by Elena Kountoura MEP and Tatsuya Namura of Toyota Motor Europe followed by presentations on:

  • Young people’s risky behaviour: the science behind it - Dr. Divera Twisk, Queensland University of Technology
  • Reducing road deaths among young people - findings of the forthcoming ETSC report - Jenny Carson, ETSC
  • How is the EU addressing the issue of young drivers? The revision of the EU driving licence directive – Claire Depré, European Commission
  • Presentation on Germany’s zero alcohol tolerance law for novice drivers and accompanied driving scheme - Jacqueline Lacroix and Kay Schulte, DVR
  • Presentation on Austria’s multiphase driving licence - Martin Winkelbauer, KFV
  • Presentation on Switzerland’s probationary period restrictions - Thomas Kramer, bfu

The event will end with a panel discussion exploring what can be done to improve young road user safety.

This event will be held in English using the Zoom platform. Connection details will be sent before the event to all participants.

News article - Closed

PACTS conference: Zero carbon and zero road deaths – does less traffic mean safer traffic?

This online conference [21st October 2021, 10:00 to 13:00] will be of interest to many in the road accident / collision investigation community.

Full details <<HERE>>

Contact, September 2021 [issue 148]

Certificate of Professional Competence In Forensic Collision Investigation

The Institute’s Certificate of Profes-sional Competence [CPC] process is now live, and we have already proc-essed and certificated several of our members.

There is obviously a cost involved with the CPC process and we have listened to feedback from some of our members who suggested we consider spreading the cost of the CPC over the 4 years it is in force.

The Council of Management has agreed the following:

  1. As an incentive for our members and those in the process of applying for Full Membership of the Institute there will be no charge for the first application for the CPC process if the application is re-ceived by the General Secretary before 31st December 2022. There-after all applications for CPC will be subject to payment in advance in accordance with the fees as shown on page 6 in Impact Volume 28, No.3.
  2. Affiliates applying for a transfer to Full membership will be charged the current fee of £60.
  3. There will be no requirement for a Full Member to take Parts B and C of the CPC procedure. They can re-main a Full Member with the post-nominals MITAI.
  4. Those members who apply for CPC and are successful can use the postnominals MITAI (CPC) until its expiry at the end of 4 years or until re-application for CPC within the 4th year.
  5. After 31st December 2022 the cost for an initial application for CPC and for renewals thereafter will be £300, however, on successfully gain-ing their CPC, the member can choose to spread the cost in ad-vance over the following 4 years by increasing their annual membership from £70 to £145 per year or alterna-tively they can pay their annual membership at £70 and pay the £300 in full when they renew their CPC.

ITAI ‘Conference 2022’

The Institute is considering holding an on-line conference in November 2022. The conference would aim to present a broad and interesting programme around the discipline of collision investigation and reconstruction.

Authors who may wish to present a paper, or papers, are asked to provide an abstract (300 - 500 words) of the content as soon as possible, so that a full programme can be considered. Please include the following information with your submission - Title of the paper, Presenter’s details and any Co-authors (title, full name, organisation, postal address and telephone).

All submissions of papers and abstracts to: chairman@itai.org

Conference details would be circulated as soon as possible via our website.

E-Scooters : Research Project - A Call for the Institute’s Assistance

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) has asked ITAI for assistance in a research project they are carrying out into the safety of private e-scooter use in the UK. The aim of the project is to collect data relating to incidents involving private e-scooters and to form recom-mendations for their construction and use.

The key elements of the project are:

  • to collect data on e-scooter collisions in the UK and publish this on our webpage Assessing the safety of private e-scooter use in the UK.
  • to gather information on the safety of private e-scooter use in the UK. Although this is almost entirely illegal and is happening on an increasingly large scale.
  • to compile information and recommendations for construction and use regulations.

Their methodology is essentially to draw on the data, information and expertise as well as litera-ture and internet information available.

With the assistance of ITAI and our members they hope we may be able to provide some information in response to the following questions, taken from their project topic guide:

  • Has research been undertaken into the dy-namics of collisions involving e-scooters ?
  • Is there research into the types of e-scooter accidents and their relative prevalence – eg. are falls more common than collisions with moving ve-hicles ?
  • How does design of the e-scooter affect the rider as a sole road user (including falls) ?
  • How does risk and type of injury of an e-scooter rider increase or alter relative to speed ?
  • What is the nature of e-scooter versus cycle incidents ?

They are also interested in riders falling from e-scooters and how those falls compare to riders of pedal cycles.

If you can assist, either contact me and I’ll pass your details to PACTS, or you can make direct contact with: Margaret Winchcomb, Senior Re-search and Policy Officer, PACTS, 07545 362587

http://www.pacts.org.uk

Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety

78 Buckingham Gate, Westminster, London SW1E 6PE (Working days : Monday - Thursday)

James Keenan chairman@itai.org

World Reconstruction Exposition [WREX] 2023 - Call For Papers

WREX 2023 will be hosted by 24 groups of international associations, including ITAI, and will feature many of the top international speakers in the ever-expanding field of colli-sion reconstruction.

The WREX 2023 organisers are currently in the process of reviewing potential speakers and presenters.

If you are interested in presenting, or have attended a presentation which you believe would be of interest for other collision reconstruction professionals, you are asked to contact William Camlin via email at wccamlin@comcast.net with information so we may consider that presentation for this conference.

Alternatively, in the first instance, you may contact the General Secretary, Bob Seston, for further infor-mation at gensec@itai.org.

WREX 2023 - Early Bird Booking

The proposed World Reconstruction EXposition remains fixed to occur between 17th & 21st April 2023 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Or-lando, Florida.

Registrations to attend the event are now being taken and over 580 people from around the world have already registered. WREX 2023 will include presentations from all the top Accident Reconstructionist, Commercial Motor Vehicle Experts, Human Factors Experts, UAV Ex-perts and more.

The WREX Committee is offering an early bird conference rate of $595.00 for those that choose to regis-ter prior to 1st April 2022. As an added discount, if you are a member of one of the participating organisa-tions (ITAI is one) the early bird fee is $495.00 for you. There is no cancellation fee, until you are within 45 days off the conference. Then the cancellation fee is $225.00.

As an incentive for early registration, all those who have registered prior to 29th September, 2021 will be entered into a draw and two individuals will ‘win’ their conference costs free of charge.

Lodging is available at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. The room rate for the conference is $159.00 per night and this rate is extended either side of the conference dates between 11th & 25th April 2023 for those who may wish to use the hotel as a base to explore further afield outside of the conference.

There is also a Call For Papers extended to anyone who may wish to present a paper to what is expected to be the largest audience of Collision Investigators ever gathered together at the same time. There are also sponsorship and exhibitor / vendor opportunities.

A link to the WREX website where registrations can be made is present on the home page of the Institute website, or go direct to www.wrex.org.

Any enquiries or questions can also be directed to the ITAI representative on the WREX organising com-mittee, Bob Seston, at gensec@itai.org.

‘Distracted Driving’ Webinar

The Institute presented the first in an intended series of one-hour webinars on 15th September.

The presentation was by Dr Gemma Briggs on the topic of ‘What do we know about distracted driving, motivations, behaviours and consequences’ ? Gemma spoke about research that supports the fact that holding a conversation on a mobile telephone whilst driving, even hands-free, creates the inattentional blindness suffered by many drivers and which often leads to their involvement in road traffic collisions.

The presentation was extremely well received and another presentation from Gemma is fixed for 10:00am on Wednesday 17th November 2021. The exact details of the content will be posted onto the ITAI web-site very soon and registrations for the webinar will then be invited.

The Institute’s Council of Management will be looking to offer more one-hour webinars on various sub-jects and if any member feels they can offer a presentation, or indeed, would like a specific topic included in the future, please contact the General Secretary at gensec@itai.org.

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