Collision Investigation

Nova Scotia Traffic Services is tasked with the responsibility of investigating all serious injury and/or fatal collisions occuring in our jurisdiction. Collision Investigation is an integral part of what we do. Not only do we attempt to provide answers as to what happened in specific collisions, investigators also look for trends or patterns that, if properly addressed, can make Nova Scotia's highways safer for all motorists.

Members of the RCMP receive basic collision investigation (Level I) training during Cadet Training while at Depot Division in Regina.

The goal of Nova Scotia Traffic Services is to have each Traffic Services Investigator trained to a minimum of "Level II". This is a one week course that provides investigators with the skills to properly measure and photograph a collision scene. Level II's are also prepared to collect and preserve evidence and have the foundation for further training as Collision Analysts (Level III).

Each Traffic Service Unit in Nova Scotia also has members on staff who have advanced collision investigation training, either as a Collision Analyst (Level III), or a Collision Reconstructionist (Level IV). This training provides members with the expertise to analyze and reconstruct collisions in a detailed and thorough manner, and to offer "opinion" evidence in both Criminal and Civil Court. The RCMP also trains analysts and reconstructionists in the proper use of Surveying Equipment for scene measurement. By using this modern equipment investigators can quickly and accurately measure collision scenes.

Collision Analysts and Reconstructionists have recently begun to take advantage of new techniques for investigating collisions and answering difficult questions. Many cars manufactured today now include electronic devices (sometimes called Crash Data Retrieval Systems, Sensing Diagnostic Modules, Restraint Control Modules or Event Control Modules) which can record pre-and post- crash electronic data -- much like an airplane's "black box." This data can be retrieved from these modules by properly trained investigators using specialized software. This data could include vehicle speed, engine RPM, seatbelt usage, brake lights (on/off), etc. and is invaluable in determining causa and fault of a collision.

Recent developments in computer software have provided experienced collision investigators with several new options in terms of collecting collision scene evidence and presenting crash scene diagrams. These programs have various options, but essentially they allow analysts and reconstructionists to plug scene data into computer software programs which allow for completion of mathematical calculations as well as two- and three-dimensional scene presentations.