Documentation of the roadway environment is crucial in most collision reconstruction cases. Often the roadway itself is a contributing factor in the collision. Poor pavement and shoulder conditions can play a role in the occurrence of an accident. Bumps, potholes, pavement roughness, and pavement edge drop-off are just a few of the pavement conditions that could cause difficulty for the drivers. There are standard roadway maintenance practices and regulations that departments must abide by to create a safe operating environment.
Friction is the resisting force of motion between two surfaces when they are in contact.
The friction generated between any two surfaces is important in reconstruction since friction converts kinetic energy to heat, noise and deformation and damage of materials. Friction analysis can determine the speed of a car. A record of these conditions helps establish whether slippery or wet roads affected the accident. Road conditions are critical to establishing the drag and speed at the time of the accident. Many people overestimate their seeing ability at night and very often the headlights are insufficient to reveal potential collisions in time for the operator to avoid them.