Time is running out to register for this years ARC-CSI Crash Conference set for June 4 - 7, 2012.  Some of the topics will include Hybrid & Electric Vehicles, Seatbelts, Truck ECM Data, Low Speed Collisions, Measuring Yaw Marks from Digital Maps, and much more.  The day of crash testing will be packed with different types of crashes including tire blow outs, multiple impact, etc.  Crash data will be collected to evaluate Ford PCM "Restraint Deployment Signals", Closing Speed Analysis, and Seatbelt Safety.  NAPARS hopes that you will be there, and make sure to stop in at the NAPARS booth during the conference.

The 2012 CDR Summit just held in Houston was attended by about 200 crash reconstructionists from many backgrounds and organizations.There were update presentations on GM, Chrysler (Fiat), Ford, and Toyota. The Monte Carlo Method (of which your humble administrator is very fond) got some love, and we got some good info about swapping chips from NAPARS member Dave Little. There were a couple sessions about Frye/Daubert and a mock admissability hearing. A total of 19 ACTAR CEU's were awarded to conference attendees.  The NAPARS table was pretty busy throughout the event, drawing 4 new members, handling several renewals, and selling 17 shirts (A record, I think).  A complete list of the topics and presenters is available at the web site: www.cdrsummit.com.

EDR Analytics is a new computer software that allows a user to upload event data from a heavy vehicle EDR and perform a number of different functions with:  

It also includes an ECM/EDR database of vehicles that record event data, fault code data uses, as well as the known anomalies in the various manufacturerers ECMs. 

Check out the new software at www.edranalytics.com and remember to claim your 20% discount as a NAPARS member.

2011 ANNUAL COMBINED CONFERENCE

Pedestrian-Bicycle Collisions

This years conference will be held at the Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey hotel in the beautiful fall countryside of Pennsylvania October 3 - 7, 2011. Join many of your fellow crash investigators and reconstructionists for a crash training conference which will highlight investigative techniques and trends dealing with pedestrian/bicycle collisions. Field activities will include pedetrian crash testing performed by the Tulsa University Consortium. An optional pre-conference training class will be offered on Digital Photography on Tuesday Oct 4th. An ACTAR prep class will be held on Oct 3rd with an ACTAR examination on Oct 4th. The main conference runs Oct 5 - 7th.  For more information or registration go to www.crashconference.com.

NAPARS members now have access to the crash test database at TU-CRRC!  The database will contain photos, video, and other data collected at crash tesing that began in the Fall of 2010.  The database will grow each year and is a paid benefit of NAPARS membership.  Details on how to access the database are located in the Reference Library (which requires logging in as a member).  Contact NAPARS if you have any difficulties accessing the database.

The latest AR News...IPTM Special Problems, 2011

In May, more than 120 attendees saw high speed motorcycle crash tests and a rollover event during a busy day on the test pad, followed by a keynote speech by NASCAR safety coordinator Jerry Kaproth, and numerous breakout sessions covering many aspects of crash reconstruction, including information on the very latest just-released Bosch/CDR Version 3.8 software. Two attendees won NAPARS packages including a shirt, hat, and coffee mug. Congratulations to both our winners!

NAPARS receives inquiries from the media for many reasons.  Some are for background information for an article on a specialized subject and others relate to a specific news event.  Requests often deal with heavy trucks, school buses, exotic vehicle crashes, driver reaction times, multi-car pileups, EDR (CDR and ECM), crash photography, and forensic mapping to name a few.  Whatever the topic, NAPARS endeavors to connect media requests with NAPARS member experts with specialized knowledge and skill on a specialized subject.  To make this process operate seamlessly we are asking that those interested in being on a media contact list drop us your contact information and a brief description of your areas of specialized knowledge or experience with which you would be willing to assist the media if an inquiry is made.

The TU-CRRC is a non-profit, cooperative, industry-university research venture in which the membership helps to fund research and testing in crash reconstruction.  As a contributing member, NAPARS and its members will join other groups in helping to direct what crash testing is needed and performed by the Consortium, gain rights to future crash testing to be performed at our future conferences, and have free access to a database of all crash tests performed by the Consortium.   Look for access to the newly formed database coming soon to the Members Only section of the NAPARS site.