GPS Services Now Used for Accident Reconstruction

GPS devices are everywhere and in many devices, including your phone. Recently, GPS receivers are also being used to provide essential data for accident reconstruction. Speed and vehicle position will be recorded if a GPS device is in use at the time a crash occurs. This data can then be used by analysts to determine a vehicle’s path and speed before, and even after a collision.
Thanks to the US Department of Defense, twenty-four networked satellites are orbiting the earth 12,000 miles up to provide global positioning anywhere in the world. This global positioning system (GPS) can provide the exact location on earth for a GPS-enabled receiver. This technology is what allows us to have GPS navigation systems in our cars (and elsewhere). These devices aid drivers with step-by-step directions to their destination.

Recently, GPS receivers are also being used to provide essential data for accident reconstruction. Speed and vehicle position will be recorded if a GPS device is in use at the time a crash occurs. This data can then be used by analysts to determine a v

ehicle’s path and speed before, and even after a collision. Most new vehicles also have an event data recorder. This provides data from rollover sensors and airbags. Thus your Garmin becomes part of the car’s “black box”, though there is no voice recorder (yet!).

When a serious accident occurs, having as much data as possible is essential to reconstruction. Using traditional reconstruction methods and new information provided by the vehicle’s event data recorder and handy navigation system, reconstruction can be done more accurately. Hopefully, this information can be used by the injured parties and those interested in traffic safety.