Drag Sled Use in Traffic Crash Investigation & Reconstruction
It is obviously not practical to weigh an accident vehicle and move it along a roadway surface in order to determine the drag factor for the roadway when it can be easily and accurately obtained through the use of a drag sled. A drag sled can take many shapes and sizes, e.g., a manufactured drag sled, a tire mounted on a wheel, or a piece of metal (when, for example, the crash vehicle was sliding on its roof). It all depends upon the facilities available and the circumstances or requirements involved.
For complete details on the various types of drag sleds, procedures in their use, and how to manufacture a home-made drag sled, see the titles listed on the Books Page including the following:
RIVERS, R.W.: Technical Traffic Accident Investigators' Handbook (2nd ed.). Published by Charles C Thomas - Publisher, 1997.
RIVERS, R.W.: Traffic Accident Investigators' Manual (2nd ed.). Published by Charles C Thomas - Publisher, 1995.
RIVERS, R. W.: Basic Physics manual. Notes for Traffic Crash Investigators and Reconstructionists. An Introduction for Some, A Review for Others. Published by Charles C Thomas - Publisher, 2004.
RIVERS, R.W.: Evidence in Traffic Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Manual - Identification, Interpretation and Analysis of Evidence, and The Traffic Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Process. Published by Charles C Thomas - Publisher, 2005.
RIVERS, R.W.: Training and Reference Manual for Traffic Accident Investigation (2nd ed.). Published by the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM), 1995.
RIVERS, R.W.: Speed Analysis for Traffic Accident Investigation Manual. Published by the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM), 1995.