🚀 go-pugleaf

Dennis.Jensen@dwt.csiro.au (Dennis Jensen) wrote:

>Earl, with these tests, were you braking with fully locked wheels in the 
>non-ABS car?

I've run deceleration tests in both?  Have you?  

>A very basic rule of thumb for rubber on bitumen would be (for 
>the case of typical materials used in road and tyre construction-please note 
>the deliberate defining of conditions) is a CoF of 1.0 static and 0.8 kinetic.

Based on tests or a swag?

>Earl, it could be because lawyers do not have much of a clue about physics.

Most don't.  They don't need to.   They hire people like me instead of
a physicist with no investigative experience.  Something to do with
credibility in front of the jury or some such thing.  

And I did read the rest of your lengthy post but, unfortunately, I've
no time to answer it point for point.   I will point out that I've run
a number of skid tests, both with and without ABS and on many types of
road surfaces and in varying weather conditions.  ABS does offer
better braking but the difference in the c.o.f. isn't as high as some
people think.  Its strongest asset is in retaining the driver's
ability to steer during hard braking.

>But if you went to court using a figure of 0.7 CoF to 
>state that I was doing 80mph, and not 70mph, I would destroy your case.

I take it your brother doesn't do many P.I. cases.  We work with a
range of numbers, not an absolute.  No, you would not destroy my case,
you would confirm it.  Engineers and physicists and other specialists
are great in their fields but it is an error to assume they can step
in and do an exhaustive investigation into a serious crash.  In this
field experience is king.

Here's a neat little summation written by an attorney who is also an
ex-cop.

====== begin quote ==============

Whores and Advocates 101.

The defense attorney is an ADVOCATE for his client.

The plaintiff attorney is an ADVOCATE for his client.


Whores and Advocates 201.

The prosecutor (city/state/federal attorney) is an ADVOCATE for his
client.


Whores and Advocates 301.

The experts may present the evidence in their clients best light


Whores and Advocates 401.

The POLICE are the ONLY ones CHARGED with seeking the TRUTH.


Whores and Advocates 501 (POST-GRADUATE LEVEL).

The POLICE are the only ones without a client.  They MUST be
IMPARTIAL.  They seek only the TRUTH.

=========== end quote ===========


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