September 1, 2010

School Zone Safety

With kids heading back to class, it’s time to remind drivers to be extra careful in school zones.

As of the beginning of August, the 30 km/h speed limit in Calgary school zones begins one half hour earlier.  School zones are now in force from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The new time is to account for students who arrive early for activities such as sports or music practice.  School zones are only in effect on school days, and drivers are cautioned that some schools in Calgary are open during the summer months; these school zones are signed accordingly.

Alberta municipalities can change school zone rules so drivers must be sure to check signs for speed limits and times.  Playground zones, however, are regulated by the Province of Alberta.  Drivers must obey a 30 km/h speed limit daily from 8:30 a.m. until one hour after sunset unless otherwise posted.

The rules are a little different in California.  Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit is 25 mph (40 km/h) while driving within 500 to 1000 feet (150 to 300 meters) of a school while children are outside or crossing the street.  In some areas, the speed limit is as low as 15 mph (25 km/h).

No matter the laws in your region, remember to ALWAYS drive with added caution in areas where children may be at play.

July 18, 2010

Tour for Kids

Some of our readers may already know that Craig Good is an avid competitive cyclist who spends much of his scant spare time away from work pedalling Alberta’s roads and race tracks.

This year, Craig and his wife Sarah decided to take their love of cycling to another level.   They participated in the Tour for Kids, a gruelling three-day ride covering over 150 km each day with a significant portion of the route winding its way over the steep hills of the incredible Rocky Mountains!

Craig and Sarah were a part of the University of Calgary Schulich School of Engineering team.  One hundred percent of the money raised went to the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation supporting cancer camps for children.  The camps allow an opportunity for kids to be kids and break away from some of the overwhelming challenges of living with such a devastating illness.

According to Coast to Coast, 1700 children in Canada are diagnosed with cancer each year, and over 10,000 children live with cancer and its long term consequences.  In the U.S., over 12,000 children and teens are diagnosed each year.

Way to go, Craig and Sarah, for helping make a difference in the fight against cancer!

June 9, 2010

Technical Paper Presentations

Collision Analysis was proud to present two technical papers at the Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference (CMRSC) XX held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, June 6 to 9.

• Comparison of linear, rotational and finite element thresholds of brain injury for impacts at multiple locations to the head, by Craig Good and Steve Thannhauser

• Causes of collisions involving one large truck and one passenger vehicle in the United States, by Mike Ellis and Craig Good

Mike and Craig were honoured to present the papers at the annual conference, which was hosted by the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (CARSP).

As part of the investigative team under contract to Transport Canada, Mike and Craig also attended Transport Canada’s Defect Investigation and Motor Vehicle Collision Investigation annual team meeting, which was held immediately prior to the CMRSC. Click here to learn more.

Download our papers from the conference proceedings at no cost.

June 4, 2010

Palmquist vs. Ziegler

On February 22, 2005, a multi-vehicle collision occurred near Edmonton, Alberta, resulting in the death of Joseph Palmquist.  Mr. Palmquist was operating a pickup truck southbound on Highway 216 when it was struck by another vehicle travelling in the same direction.  The collision sent the Palmquist vehicle across the centre median and into the northbound travel lanes where it was struck by a tractor-trailer unit.

Collision Analysis was asked to evaluate the collision event and to analyse whether seatbelt usage by Mr. Palmquist would have prevented or reduced the severity of his injures.

The case went to trial March 2010 at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton.  Mike Ellis was qualified in the area of accident investigation and reconstruction.  His evidence was unchallenged.  The Honourable Madam Justice D.C. Read accepted his testimony regarding the events of the collision and that the collision severity experienced by the Palmquist vehicle in the collision with the tractor trailer unit was in the range of 70 to 100 km/h.

Craig Good testified in the area of injury biomechanics.  With the assistance of the computer modeling program MADYMO, he showed that, due to the severity of the collision with the tractor-trailer unit, Mr. Palmquist likely would have been killed or seriously injured regardless of belt usage.  His evidence was also unchallenged and accepted by Madam Justice Read in her June 4, 2010, Judgement.