DRIVER IDENTIFICATION

Using our expertise in seatbelt examination, and with the addition of other factors such as vehicle damage, vehicle dynamics in the collision and occupant data such as height, weight and injury pattern we are usually able to determine the position of the occupants before the collision.

Example 1

The situation is a single vehicle rollover on a rural road. When emergency services arrive some time after the collision they find one occupant thrown from the vehicle and deceased, the other occupant lying in the bushes with minor injuries.

We examine the seatbelts and find the left front passenger's seatbelt was worn, and the driver's seatbelt was not worn. We would be able to provide an opinion on the balance of probabilities whether or not the deceased was the driver of the vehicle.

Example 2

The situation is that two mates are driving home in the early hours of the morning after being at a party. The vehicle has collided with a stobie pole. Both the occupants are uninjured and walk away from the collision. Both occupants are affected heavily by alcohol. Both are found at the scene by emergency services and occupant A says he was the passenger and occupant B was driving, occupant B says he cannot recall who was driving. Occupant A is 6'6 ft and weighs 120kg, occupant B is 5'4 ft and weighs 65kg, the vehicle is owned by occupant A.

We examine the vehicle and observe the passenger glovebox is intact, and the drivers steering wheel is deformed. We examine the seatbelts and find load marking on the webbing on both seatbelts. The location of the load marking on the webbing on the driver's seatbelt shows that the webbing was extended further than the similar load marking on the left front passenger's seatbelt. Our opinion would be based on multiple pieces of evidence, firstly, the seatbelt webbing load marking indicated the larger occupant was seated in the driver's seat. Secondly, with the position of the left front seat, and the lack of damage to the glovebox, we can show it is unlikely that a person who is 6'6 ft could have been in the left front seat without their knees making contact with the glove box. Finally, the damage to the steering wheel is indicative of being loaded through the driver's arms, in spite of the driver wearing the seatbelt. It is considered that the heavier occupant would have a greater probability of deforming a steering wheel. From all the evidence available it would be our opinion, on the balance of probabilities, that occupant A was the driver.