Methodology of an in-depth accident investigation survey

The circumstances leading up to the occurence of road accidents are so complex that a reliable assessment of accident causation can only be made with detailed knowledge of the many aspects of road environment , vehicle and road user which may have contributed to the accidents. This report describes in detail the techniques adopted for an On-the Spot investigation into accident causation starting with attendance at the scene and ending with a full assessment of the contributing factors. The organisation, staffing , investigating and analytical procedures used are described; difficulties encountered and possible improvements in technique are also discussed.