Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center Awarded FMCSA Grant

 

The Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center has been awarded a FMCSA grant to train 60 Law Enforcement Officers in the area of Commercial Vehicle Crash Investigation.  The Research Center works very closely with Law Enforcement in Connecticut and as a result of our excellent working relationship a determination was made that crash investigators were looking for specialized training in the area of CMV crash investigation.  UConn applied for and received a grant to fund a CMV crash certification course for 60 officers.  Two one week certification courses will be presented this fall at the Connecticut Police Academy by instructors from the Institute of Police Technology and Management.

This intensive course will cover the unique characteristics of commercial motor vehicles and the special dynamics at play when one is involved in a collision. Detailed information of the nomenclature and operation of commercial motor vehicles will provide you with a level of competence needed to have an adequate understanding of mechanical components, parts and pieces of the commercial motor vehicle and how they may factor into your investigation. To reinforce the concepts presented, you will conduct “hands-on” exercises and vehicle testing during the course.

Topics include: • Tractor-trailer nomenclature • Brake systems: configuration and operation • Wheels, rims and tires • Steering suspensions and frames • Trailer coupling devices - fifth wheels • Driver concerns - log books • Vehicle components Prerequisite: This course is designed for traffic crash investigators who have completed, at a minimum, IPTM’s At-Scene Traffic Crash/Traffic Homicide Investigation course or its equivalent. You should have a good working knowledge of the techniques and applications of the formulas presented in the basic course, as the presentation of mathematical formulas will build upon techniques already used by investigators.