By Steve Ranger, 22 August 2005 12:50
NEWS Police are testing high-tech survey equipment to speed up their investigations at road crash scenes and to get traffic back up and running more quickly.
It can take six hours to clear a serious road incident because once any casualties have been removed the police have to gather evidence for their investigation.
Police in the West Midlands are testing a tripod-mounted scanner which will capture images of a wide area by using a laser beam to scan a large number of points in its field of view.
The scanner collects large amounts of data which can then be processed through software to produce high quality three-dimensional images of a crash scene.
They will also test the latest 'total stations' - electronic surveying instruments mounted on a theodolite - which measure angles between points using a laser distance measurement system.
The operator sets up the device and then investigates the crash site holding a target, which the total station will follow, recording the data. Software then converts the data into a drawing.
Police will also test systems that can take measurements from digital photographs, which can then be used to help with drawings.
The on-road trials started last month and will last until November.
Central Motorway Police Group chief superintendent Nick Croft said in a statement: "This trial will provide useful information relating to the potential for the police service to use new types of equipment. It could result in significant advances being made in relation to the quality of evidence gathered and the efficiency of the police investigation."
Around a quarter of delays on England's motorways are caused by accidents.
Comments
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1. anonymous
Police getting off their arses and hauling crash wreckage off the roads as soon as appropriate fire/medical work is done and some pictures and measurement is taken would do the job.
They are obsessed by holding up the traffic at a cost of tens and hundreds or thousands to prosecute a few people for bad driving. All they will get a a £50 find and 3 points !!
Recent incidents include the A34 at Oxford being shut for almost 20 hours at a cost to the local economy that was estimated by the BBC at £1.5M
Last week there was the story about a motorway being closed so the police could retreive a teddy bear - shocking !!
2. Mike
There needs to be a sense of proportion in "gathering evidence" after an accident. It won't undo the injuries received and probably doesn't do anything for prevention - people driving badly don't connect the two!
The same resources diverted into "active prevention" would repay dividends with less accidents and less delays. Active prevention? - I mean pulling people over, lecturing them, giving them a warning - next time it's a prosecution!
Offences causing accidents - driving too close, changing lanes without warning or using mirrors, weaving, lane hogging. Biggest cause is lack of anticipation, but that is difficult to pin down.
3. anonymous
Use the cameras to eliminate stupid drivers and there would be hardly any accidents.
The average speed cameras at Junction 21 have massively reduced the danger there. Leave them there all the time. Leave the 40 limit. I'd rather get to work in one piece.