MSC Blog

Messerschmidt and Austin to Present at the 2012 ARC-CSI Crash Conference

2012-05-18T14:40:45Z

Kelly Messerschmidt
Technical Communications Manager

Bill Messerschmidt of MSC, and Tim Austin of the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy will give a presentation on “Using ECM Diagnostic Data in Crash Reconstruction” at the 2012 ARC-CSI Crash Conference, which will take place June 4-7, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Messerschmidt and Austin’s presentation explores the presence of important, volatile fault data in heavy vehicle Engine Control Modules (ECMs) that are oftentimes ignored, inadvertently erased, or overwritten during the ECM data imaging process.

They will discuss how and when diagnostic records are written, how they can be useful in collision investigations, as well as how the data can be preserved correctly. Messerschmidt and Austin will describe data imaging methods, such as the use of surrogate vehicles and devices like the “Truck in a Box.”

The ARC-CSI Crash Conference takes place annually and—as they have done for the past 10 years—the ARC-CSI Crash Team will conduct multiple, fully instrumented live crash tests of vehicles in real world crash scenarios. Learn more about the crash tests.

The two days that follow crash test day are comprised of technical presentations given by experts from around the world on topics relevant to investigating and reconstructing vehicle collisions. Learn more about the topics and speakers for the 2012 ARC-CSI Crash Conference.

AL Governor Bentley Signs Law to Prohibit Texting While Driving

2012-05-11T15:56:02Z

Kevin Jones
Technical Analyst

On Tuesday, 08 May 2012, Alabama governor Robert Bentley signed a bill that outlaws texting while driving. The law goes into effect on 01 August 2012. The law doesn’t prohibit dialing a phone; however, it does ban texting, instant messaging, and sending emails while operating an automobile.

Alabama is the 38th state to make texting while driving illegal. Under the new law, if a person is ticketed for a texting-while-driving offense, he or she could be fined up to $75 and receive violations on his or her driving record. Gov. Bentley compared the new law to Alabama’s seatbelt law, which is also a measure to prevent fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

Read a news article about Alabama’s new law banning texting while driving.

Finishing the Third Class on How to Interpret HVEDR Data

2012-03-31T05:37:04Z

Today the third class on How to Interpret HVEDR Data through the Tulsa University CESE concluded. On Thursday, we covered Caterpillar, International, PACCAR, and Hino ECMs, as well as Bendix ABS systems, telematics, and the HVEDR research that has been done since 1998. Today, we reviewed the testing that was done on Wednesday, and provided the student participants with 701.9MB of data on CDs.

The TU CESE concluded with a pass/fail test, and we were pleased that all the students passed. Considering the previous academic achievements of these students, a 100% pass rate was to be expected.

As one of the principle instructors and course designers, I greatly appreciate the assistance and hard work of my co-instructors, Ron Baade and Dr. Jeremy Daily. Their hard work and the contribution of others who offered assistance, data, and test results is greatly appreciated. Special thanks are due to Tim Austin and the Wisconsin State Patrol, who shared test data that were only a few weeks old.

FMCSA Releases Research on Benefits of Speed Limiters in Large Trucks

2012-03-30T16:36:56Z

Benjamin Smith
Principal Technical Analyst
MSC MS

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released research this week on the benefits of using speed limiters (SLs), also known as speed governors, in large trucks. For more information, view the FMCSA's document, titled "Speed-Limiters."
SLs are a technology that allows trucking fleets or truck owners to program a preset maximum speed of travel. Many trucking fleets use SLs not only to increase safety by reducing their trucks’ top speed, but also to reduce tire wear, extend the life of the brakes and engine, improve fuel economy, and so on.

In January 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed limiting the speed of all heavy trucks to 68mph. NHTSA stated its intent to initiate the rulemaking process on this issue in 2012. Read NHTSA's notice in the Jan. 3, 2011 Federal Register.

Viewpoints differ on the issue of mandating the use of SLs in heavy trucks. Agencies and groups such as the American Trucking Associations (ATA), Road Safe America, and the Truckload Carriers Association, have stated their support for SLs in large trucks for reasons including reduced severity of crashes and various economic benefits. However, critics of government-mandated SLs, such as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), have stated their opposition for reasons such as the potential for speed-governed trucks to become “rolling roadblocks” when operating in faster flows of traffic.

Research published in the American Journal of Public Health in March 2009, titled “The Effect of State Regulations on Truck-Crash Fatalities,” examines the effects of certain traffic safety policies and restrictions on fatality rates in truck-involved crashes.

How to Interpret Heavy Vehicle EDR Data, Day 3

2012-03-28T22:48:48Z

William Messerschmidt
Principal Technical Analyst

Today marked the third day of the TU HVEDR class, which is the day we set aside for field work and demonstrations.

In the morning, participants got to begin hands-on ECM downloads of Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar, and Cummins ECMs. Dr. Daily and his graduate students also assisted in demonstrating actual data transmissions over the J1939 network.

Freightliner of Tulsa brought a brand new 2012 Freightliner Cascadia with DDEC 10 electronics. Participants got to download the truck using DDEC Reports and DDDL 7 software and see (on a clean, new truck) the parts specific to Sustained Catalytic Reduction (SCR), like the Aftertreatment Control Module (ACM) and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) tank.

In the afternoon, we went to the Tulsa Fairgrounds and had the chance to test two fully instrumented Kenworth tractors, which were donated by Melton Transportation. Tests were performed with a Road Relay 4 attached, with a Safety Pass Pro attached, and with parameter changes made to some of the trucks' parameters. Using a Video VBox 4, we were able to capture CAN data on vehicle speed, engine speed brake, and clutch status (and other parameters as well).

Thanks to the assistance of the Tulsa Fire Department, Freightliner of Tulsa, Melton Transportation, today's field day was a very successful event!

How to Interpret Heavy Vehicle EDRs, Day 2

2012-03-28T03:33:11Z

William Messerschmidt
Principal Technical Analyst

The second day of Tulsa University CESE's class on HVEDR data begins the focus on specific engine manufacturers.

This morning, Ron Baade discussed and demonstrated the ECM and EDR data in Detroit Diesel and Mercedes Benz engines, including DDEC IV - DDEC 10, and the 2001 - 2008 MBE engines.

During the afternoon, I taught the section on Cummins ECMs, beginning with the 2002 ISX and ISM heavy duty engines, through the CM2250 and CM2150 EPA 2010 engines. Topics included data limitations, the effects of power failure, anomalies that have been found in the data, fault data (diagnostic trouble codes), and case studies.

In the evening, Ron, Jeremy Daily, and I went to Melton Trucking and began to prep the test trucks for tomorrow's testing. The trucks will include two 2012 Kenworths, and a 2012 Freightliner. In tomorrow's class, Dr. Daily will be presenting more information and examples of CAN data.

How to Interpret Heavy Vehicle EDRs, Day 1

2012-03-27T00:57:06Z

William Messerschmidt
Principal Technical Analyst

This week marks the third time that the University of Tulsa Continuing Engineering and Science Education (CESE) division has presented the HVEDR class developed by Ron Baade, Dr. Jeremy Daily, and me.

I am very encouraged to see that there are more active law enforcement officers in this session than in either of the two previous sessions. In fact, there are more active officers in this session than in the first two combined!

By design, the first day focuses on general information in HVEDRs. Since this is a developing field, with a great deal of ongoing research, we have tried to teach in a way that develops an understanding of the subject, rather than simply conveying a lot of factoids.

In this 3rd session, the first and third days include expanded sections by Dr. Daily on the communications protocols that are used to communicate ECM (and EDR) data, as well as an explanation of how the ECM transforms analog activity into digital output.

As always, the CESE has drawn an exceptional group of the best forensic engineers and police investigators from across the nation, and as usual, its an exhausting proposition to keep up with such an advanced group of "students." With the general principles explained and demonstrated, tomorrow dives into the specific engine types and the properties of their EDR functions.

AAA Survey: Parents Responding Positively to Car Seat Compliance

2012-03-26T17:43:55Z

Kevin Jones
Technical Analyst

According to a new survey by AAA, outreach efforts to educate parents of children under age 13 regarding child safety seat use have yielded positive results. Nearly a year ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its recommendations regarding the use of rearward-facing seats for children over the age of one, recommending that children remain in rearward-facing car seats until age two—or until the child exceeds the height and weight limits of the child seat. Read our earlier blog post, "New Child Seat Recommendations from the AAP and NHTSA" to learn more.

AAA found that over 90% of the parents with children under age 13 heard of the new guidelines by AAP. Several parents heard of these guidelines from their child’s pediatrician. AAA also found that one in three of the parents surveyed changed how they allowed their child to travel in the vehicles.

Seventy-seven percent of parents with children younger than age two who did not make any changes based on the AAP’s recommendations reported that they were already meeting or exceeding these guidelines. However, there were other parents who were allowing their children to graduate to bigger seats or seatbelt use prematurely for reasons such as discomfort.

AAA’s article, "AAA Survey Reveals 'Boost' in Car Seat Compliance," reinforces the need for parents to follow the guidelines set forth by the AAP in order to help reduce serious injuries and death among children in automobile crashes. The article can be found in AAA's "Newsroom."

Bendix ABS Research by Ben Smith Forthcoming at SAE World Congress

2012-03-19T16:08:39Z

Kelly Messerschmidt
Technical Communications Manager

Messerschmidt Safety Consultants (MSC) is proud to announce that Benjamin Smith, in conjunction with Timothy Austin of the Wisconsin State Patrol and Mike Farrell of Fox Valley Technical College, will have their most recent research published at the upcoming Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2012 World Congress in Detroit, Michigan, April 24-26.

Their technical paper, “An Examination of Diagnostic Event Data in Bendix Antilock Brake System Electronic Control Units,” will be presented during the Event Data Recorders (EDR) section of the Occupant Protection session.

The paper pertains to the function and accuracy of the Bendix EC-60 and EC-30 ABS controllers in real-world crash scenarios. In particular, the study focuses on the diagnostic event recording and reporting functions within the electronic controllers of Bendix ABS systems.

This research is unique, as it is the first time that Bendix ABS systems have been formally explored as a source of crash event data in the investigations of motor vehicle crashes. The underlying research for this paper was conducted in the spring of last year on late-model Volvo and International commercial vehicles in Appleton, Wisconsin.

National Sleep Foundation 2012 Poll: Transportation Professionals' Sleep Habits, Work Performance

2012-03-07T18:36:47Z

Kelly Messerschmidt
Technical Communications Manager

National Sleep Awareness Week is currently being observed in the US (March 5-11, 2012). According to the National Sleep Foundation 2012 poll--the first to ask transportation professionals about their sleep habits and work performance--11% of pilots, train operators, and bus/taxi/limo drivers, and 8% of truck drivers are "sleepy." Read the press release.

The poll also found that 14% of truck drivers, and 12% of bus/taxi/limo drivers polled reported having had a "near miss" due to sleepiness. Although individuals' sleep needs vary, most research assumes that normal adults sleep for 7-8 hours per night.

In NHTSA's "Drowsy Driving and Automobile Crashes" report, shift-workers whose sleep is disrupted by working at night, or working long or irregular hours, are categorized as being one of the three population groups at highest risk for "drowsy-driving" crashes. According to the National Sleep Foundation 2012 poll, a significant number of the transportation workers said their schedules do not allow enough time for sleep.