Crash Scene Investigation – The Science of Motion: applying the Year 10 science curriculum to reduce crash outcomes

The SAPOL Road Safety Centre has developed a 90 minute Year 10 science based Road Safety product called “Crash Scene Investigation – The science of motion”, which has direct curriculum links with the middle school science curriculum. _x000D_
_x000D_The presentation uses Newton’s Laws of motion to explain vehicle and passenger behaviour in a collision. The formula for kinetic energy and its crash implications is explained, as are other formulae such as the speed of light (laser speed detection) and the co-efficient of friction. Whilst a core focus of the presentation is to demonstrate the application of the formulae, the session also creates a perception of relevance and need for compliance with, contemporary road laws._x000D_
_x000D_Being the age group most likely to crash and the group most likely to drive older vehicles, the package uses current ANCAP crashworthiness research and (authorised) video footage to demonstrate how vehicles respond to collision forces and how the structure of a vehicle can have the capacity to prevent excessive energy being transferred to the occupants._x000D_
_x000D_Crash scene reconstruction software is used to create an animation of a crash by using data obtained from the scene and applying basic laws of physics._x000D_
_x000D_A driving simulator is used to allow students the opportunity to participate in a number of driving tasks, whilst being distracted. The session is interactive and, through discussion, encourages students to develop social competence and resilience rather than the session being purely information based._x000D_