Plan means police may use 3D laser scanning at crash sites
Share
Plans to roll out 3D laser scanning technology on England’s motorways could shorten road closures due to crashes, according to the government.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has contributed £2.7m to enable 27 police forces across England to purchase a total of 37 scanners.
The technology can quickly create a 3D image of a crash site, removing the need for investigators to survey multiple sections of a scene.
This digital image allows investigators to remotely determine exact vehicle locations and examine other important evidence.
Roads minister Mike Penning said the technology would reduce incident clear-up times by an average of 39 minutes.
‘There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in a traffic jam for hours on end,’ he said. ‘But even worse than that is the shocking £1bn cost of those lost hours for our economy.
‘That is why we are determined to improve the clear-up of accidents so we can get our motorways re-opened as quickly as possible.’
Individual police forces and the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) will also contribute funds to the scheme.
The wider roll-out of 3D laser scanning technology is part of a government-led initiative to maintain traffic flow, recently rebranded ’CLEAR’ (Collision, Lead, Evaluate, Act, Re-open).
In 2010 there were more than 18,000 full or partial motorway closures lasting a total of more than 20,000 hours.
Assistant chief constable Sean White of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said the technology would make an important contribution to investigating fatal and life-changing collisions.
‘Police forces acquiring this equipment will be in a better position to manage such critical events in a more efficient way and present the most accurate and detailed evidence from the laser-scanning devices to criminal, civil and coroners’ courts.
‘The equipment will be deployed day and night across England and will make a real difference to improving the capability of collision investigators, reducing delays for all road users and re-opening motorways and other strategic roads at the earliest opportunity.’
Readers' comments (3)
Anonymous | 4 Jan 2012 4:21 pm
About time, far too many accidents are turned into crime scenes and the roadway denied to users. Which might not matter if there were more-adequate alternative routes. Turning the Motorway system into a vast car park, with unknown and undesirable consequences for thousands of drivers and passengers, not to say effects on urgent or perishable goods/cargo.
The other urgent matter to address is known in USA as “rubber necking”. With camera technology it should be possible to identify and puinish those at the front of queues who go slow to have a morbid look at the accident etc.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 4 Jan 2012 6:06 pm
It's great news that they want to re-open closed mororways sooner but I think it would be more relavant to try and clear up less serious accidents sooner than they are. It's so frustrating being stuck for 20 minutes or more in traffic jams moving at 2 mph then going past the scene of the accident seeing 3 police cars with 6 officers strolling around with their hands in their pockets with no sign of any tow trucks.
Can't they put more tow trucks at relevent point on main motorways so they can be cleared within 30 minutes of happening? Taking of victims and witness interviews etc. can be done away from the motorway.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 7 Jan 2012 7:00 pm
All good stuff, but what do they do with the information ? Prosecute drivers at fault - I cannot remember any reports so no deterrence. Get the road resurfaced - when, by whom, at whose expense ? Rebuild a badly designed curve or junction, move a road sign, cut down a tree - heaven foirbid ! It does give the police a day out in the fresh air.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment