VCG Human Factors

Human Factors is the science of human interaction or reaction with mechanical devices or processes.  The CED Vehicle Crash Group (VCG) has  forensic engineering expertise relating to human interaction with vehicular accidents.  This experience is divided into the following two parts:

Perception and Reaction Time (PRT)

Our  engineers use  state-of-the-art software that measures the ability to perceive a hazard and then react to that hazard.  Drive 3 is a vehicular software program development created by a Ph.D. Psychologist with a vehicular accident reconstruction education. This program compiles a vast majority of perception studies that have been performed and calculated based upon parameters of what a normal reaction time should be considered.  By utilizing Drive 3 and other advanced computerized programs, our engineers can calculate the reaction time based upon four factors:

• Perception – The first time a person becomes aware of a hazard
• Identification – Identifying what the hazard is
• Decision – What to do about the hazard
• Action – Physical movement of motor skills to avoid the hazard.

These factors and their input allow our engineers to determine perception reaction times that are based on scientific research.

Visibility

Visibility most often deals with line of sight of a reported hazard that contributed to an accident.  These studies can be divided into three parts; lighting, stationary objects and moving objects.  The aspect of lighting most often deals with the amount ,whether there is too much or not enough lighting.  Roadway designs can have instances where sunlight is too bright without warning or nighttime where lack of light can be a potential causation to an accident.  CED engineers utilize meters and other equipment that can measure the light at accident sights using weather mapping, sun positioning and light produced from such things as headlights and street lights.

Using computerized models, CED can reconstruct an accident from the time of impact back to the distance and time where a driver would first become aware a potential hazard known as “Time & Distance Analysis”.  Provided the right data is present, CED engineers can determine time based representation of objects causing potential hazard and contributory aspects to an accident.

Human Factors involvement in vehicular accidents is only applicable when it is based upon scientific evidence and research.  That is why CED engineers use several computerized program and engineering models to provide us with accurate results are based upon accredited science.