A tool used in accident reconstruction and forensic engineering, this application estimates the minimum area of contact between a tire and the road surface during a skid. This area, often irregular in shape, provides crucial data for calculating vehicle speed prior to braking. For example, inputs like skid mark length, road surface type, and tire condition are used to determine the area, which then informs speed calculations.
Accurate estimation of this contact area is vital for understanding the dynamics of a collision. It enables investigators to reconstruct events, determine driver behavior, and contribute to fairer legal proceedings. Historically, determining this area relied on simplified assumptions and manual measurements. Modern computational methods offer significantly improved accuracy and consider more variables, leading to more reliable reconstructions.
