I need help! ASAP! Cops welcome...

OUT FOX EM · Jan 27, 2004

Does anyone know of a website with a formula or calculator that can be used to determine speed from length of skid marks? I was in an accident traveling 45 mph when a truck pulled out in front of me and I hit him. I had no time to stop. The car is a 1989 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, loaded with 4 people including myself, no anti-lock brakes. The extra weight will obviously play a role in stopping distance. I have stock brakes (front rotors, rear drums), and there was approximately 8 miles of street driving prior to the accident (brake fade). The other party claims I was speeding because there are skid marks but I wasn't cited by the police officer. Is there a formula I can use to find out for myself how long it should have taken me to stop? I know the police use one...

NiteMareGT · Jan 27, 2004

OUT FOX EM said:
Does anyone know of a website with a formula or calculator that can be used to determine speed from length of skid marks? I was in an accident traveling 45 mph when a truck pulled out in front of me and I hit him. I had no time to stop. The car is a 1989 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, loaded with 4 people including myself, no anti-lock brakes. The extra weight will obviously play a role in stopping distance. I have stock brakes (front rotors, rear drums), and there was approximately 8 miles of street driving prior to the accident (brake fade). The other party claims I was speeding because there are skid marks but I wasn't cited by the police officer. Is there a formula I can use to find out for myself how long it should have taken me to stop? I know the police use one...

If you weren't cited, I wouldn't worry about it. Did they get cited for failing to yield right of way or anything else?

99SilverGT · Jan 27, 2004

There are SO many variables involved I can't believe any formula would be even remotely accurate.

Beau · Jan 27, 2004

i learned how to do it back in high school physics...sorry, but i've forgotten

SROBERTLAW2003 · Jan 27, 2004

Yes There Is A Formula In Figuring It Out U Should Have Meassured The Skid Marks From Start To Fadded Finish, Then Weight Of Vehicle Without Ur Peeps Inside And Then There Body Weight. As Well As Road Conditions. Mostly Only Troopers Meassure Skid Patterns For Estimated Speed. Unless U Had Like A 20 Or So Foot Skid Pattern The Policeman Probably Didnt See A Need For The Bother. He Failed To Yield Right Of Way And Its His Fault In My Book And Im A Cop. Based On Info U Listed.length Of Skid Marks Is Most Important When Firguring Your Speed So Im Not Even Goin To Try To Estimate It If U Email Me With Your Guess On Skid Length Ill Formulate It For U Off The Record Lol.

OUT FOX EM · Jan 27, 2004

Well to tell you the truth, the officer DID measure the skid length, and I believe it was 82 or 88 feet. I wasn't cited for anything. He was cited for "Failure to Yield Right of Way" I believe.

menasci · Jan 27, 2004

OUT FOX EM said:
Well to tell you the truth, the officer DID measure the skid length, and I believe it was 82 or 88 feet. I wasn't cited for anything. He was cited for "Failure to Yield Right of Way" I believe.

If the other driver was cited and you weren't then you win!
His insurance company is not even gonna waste their time fighting you since he got the ticket.
You're in good shape!
I'm no cop, but I've had quite a bit of experience with this.

OUT FOX EM · Jan 27, 2004

They ARE fighting it though! That's what's pissing me off man! Now I'm without a car and they made me a bull$hit offer. I refused it so now I guess they don't have to supply a rental any longer. I just wanted to see if I could disprove their little speeding theory so they can shut up and write a check.

tarch · Jan 28, 2004

even if you WERE speeding it's still their fault to yield...

so you're not in trouble... don't snoop around too much, because the cop may be compeled to write you a ticket for speeding...

OUT FOX EM · Jan 28, 2004

Yeah thanks for the input guys. And as far as the snooping, I was just really asking for other people's input and expressing frustration at the same time. He won't write me a ticket for speeding because I wasn't speeding, and the cop said I wasn't speeding. So there you go

CottonBurnerz · Jan 28, 2004

SROBERTLAW2003 said:
Yes There Is A Formula In Figuring It Out U Should Have Meassured The Skid Marks From Start To Fadded Finish, Then Weight Of Vehicle Without Ur Peeps Inside And Then There Body Weight. As Well As Road Conditions. Mostly Only Troopers Meassure Skid Patterns For Estimated Speed. Unless U Had Like A 20 Or So Foot Skid Pattern The Policeman Probably Didnt See A Need For The Bother. He Failed To Yield Right Of Way And Its His Fault In My Book And Im A Cop. Based On Info U Listed.length Of Skid Marks Is Most Important When Firguring Your Speed So Im Not Even Goin To Try To Estimate It If U Email Me With Your Guess On Skid Length Ill Formulate It For U Off The Record Lol.

This post is officially the most annoying post ever.. worst than all caps letters posts. So many mispelled words and punctuations.. my eyes hurt..

Anyhow, I'm glad that no one was seriously hurt. It's their fault that they didn't yield. Just take it easy.

03trubluGT · Jan 28, 2004

There is a formula, and I'll try to get it.

But off the top of my head I know you will nee the Coefficient of Drag to make it work.

This is calculated by draggin an object over the road surface and measuring it with some kind of scale. It is an integral part of the formula, so I doubt if you will be accurate without it.

I do know that at 45 mph you are travelling at about 68 feet per second (mph x 1.5).

Matt

Aaron 4.6 · Jan 28, 2004

Rule #1. They were cited in a traffic violation that resulted in an accident. Game over.

Anytime they try to turn this on you, you must return the discussion back to that fact.

Ronald Jones · Jan 28, 2004

The other driver not only saw you, but could gauge how fast you were going, and yet they still pulled out in front of you. Have them explain that to the Judge.

MineralgreyGT01 · Jan 28, 2004

Hey how about this?

How to use the chart:
1. Determine the speed in mph after the vehicle has stopped sliding. This might be zero, but generally won't be zero. If the vehicle strikes something at the end of the skid, it is still moving and this residual velocity must be allowed for when using the chart.

2. Move out (horizontally ) on a speed line until it hits one of the curves, the lower is for a 0.7 drag factor, the upper is for 0.8. This is the starting point for finding the speed drop associated with a given length of skid marks with a given residual speed after the mark ends.

3. Move out the length of the longest single skid mark, then move up until you hit the curve again to find the original speed.

EXAMPLES:

a. A vehicle leaves 40' of skid marks before coming to rest- the original speed is about 30 mph for both drag factors.

b. A vehicle leaves 60' of skid marks before striking another vehicle, the damage and post impact slide suggest that its speed was 30 mph when it struck the other vehicle.

1. Move out from the 30 mph line until you hit the curve at about 40'.

2. Add the length of the skid mark -60'- go out to the 100' mark and then up until you hit the curve again at about 46-48 mph. This is the original speed of the vehicle.

So say you impacted at 20 mph that would meen you were going roughly 47-50 mph originally depending on which CoD you use. Good Luck !

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