State DOT Crash Reconstruction Practices (2007)

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

28 Department of Transportation/California Highway Patrol and Annex J (Caltrans Engineers and Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team) APPENDIX C California Joint Operational Policy Statement

29 CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL GENERAL ORDER 100.43. Revised June 2001 JOINT OPERATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL 1. PURPOSE a. This General Order contains the Joint Operational Policy Statement and subsequent mutual agreements entered into by the Direc- tor of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). This information should enhance cooperation and understanding between the two departments in matters of mutual concern. b. It is important to note that the CHP and Caltrans define the terms “Traffic Management” and “Incident Management” differ- ently. For the CHP, “Traffic Management” is defined as the direct enforcement interaction between officers and motorists that provides for safe and orderly traffic movement. For Caltrans, “Traffic Management” means the activities associated with planning and implementing traffic handling strategies including, but not limited to, signing, delineation, traffic signals, ramp metering, transportation management center activities, etc. The CHP use of the term “Incident Management” means the coordi- nation of traffic and emergency services at the scene of an incident. When Caltrans speaks of “Incident Management” they refer to the measures taken by Caltrans to mitigate traffic disruption to the highway system in the regional vicinity of an incident. 2. POLICY a. Highway traffic management and control functions administered by both departments are to be performed in compliance with the Joint Operational Policy Statement contained in Annex A. b. Searches for explosive devices by both departments on state highways are to be performed in compliance with the Joint Opera- tional Policy Statement, Bomb Search Agreement contained in Annex B. c. Communication services provided to Caltrans by the Department are to be performed in compliance with the Joint Operational Policy Statement on Rural Communications contained in Annex C. d. Hazardous material spill cleanup activities are to be performed in compliance with the Joint Operational Policy Statement contained in Annex D. e. Providing safety roadside rest area security shall be in accordance with the Joint Operational Policy Statement contained in Annex E. f. Special events on conventional state highway rights-of-way shall be in accordance with the Joint Operational Statement contained in Annex F. This Statement applies only to highways where the CHP has jurisdiction. g. Freeway Service Patrols shall be in accordance with the Joint Operational Policy Statement contained in Annex G. h. Closing or restricting the use of highways because of visibility-related conditions shall be done in accordance with Annex H. i. Intelligent Transportation Systems development, implementation, and operation shall be in accordance with the Joint Opera- tional Policy Statement contained in Annex I. j. The use of Caltrans engineers assigned to the CHPʼs Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Teams shall be in accordance with Annex J. k. Providing pedestrian safety programs shall be in accordance with the Joint Operational Policy Statement contained in Annex K. I. Planned freeway and highway lane closures shall be performed in accordance with Annex L.

30 3. GENERAL a. Commanders are requested to solicit the cooperation of Caltrans management in identifying and solving problems of mutual interest. It is incumbent upon the two departments, through joint effort, to promote the maximum benefits available from the existing highway system. b. Commanders should develop an active and aggressive interest in furthering the mutual goals and objectives of the two depart- ments by meeting regularly with Caltrans traffic operations and maintenance personnel. c. The Office of the Commissioner shall be advised of any problems or programs which may have statewide application or which may require further coordination at the headquarters level. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER ANNEXES A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L OPI: 052 DISTRIBUTION: B C H J

31 CALTRANS ENGINEERS AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TEAMS GENERAL This joint operational policy statement between the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is to promote an understanding regarding the use of Caltrans’ engineers while they are assigned to the CHP’s Multi- disciplinary Accident Investigation Teams (MAIT). MAIT reports are used to assist in the determination of damages paid out in tort claims, settlements, and judgments. These claims are paid by the state of California, Caltrans, CHP, cities, and counties. MAIT reports are used to assist in the formulation of safety improvements to prevent collisions or incidents of a similar nature from recurring. This is consistent with the mission statements of the CHP and Caltrans. It is the intent of the Director of Caltrans and the Commissioner of the CHP that their respective departments work cooperatively to provide service to the public through the use of Caltrans’ engineers within the CHP’s MAIT Program. CALTRANS’ RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Caltrans will provide full-time engineers to the CHP’s MAIT Program. 2. Caltrans will provide engineering and laboratory services. 3. Caltrans will provide engineers assigned to the MAIT Program with equipment necessary to effectively assist the CHP. CHP RESPONSIBILITIES 1. The CHP will provide Caltrans engineers with the necessary training to become an integral part of the CHP’s MAIT Program. 2. The CHP will be responsible for functional field supervision of Caltrans engineers as it relates to the MAIT Program. 3. The CHP will provide Caltrans’ Legal Department with a completed MAIT report. 4. The CHP will coordinate media relations activities related to MAIT. Every effort will be made to involve Caltrans in this process. 5. The CHP will notify the Caltrans team member when MAIT responds to a collision. The Caltrans team member will be respon- sible for the appropriate notifications within the Caltrans command structure. 6. The CHP will notify Caltrans, through the Caltrans team member, when the completion of the MAIT investigation will exceed 30 days and provide an estimated completion date for the investigation. ENGINEER RESPONSIBILITIES 1. The Caltrans engineer assigned to the Division MAIT will be responsible for conducting in-depth investigations of accidents and incidents. The engineer will provide accident reconstruction support to MAIT members by preparing and reviewing the “High- way” section of the report. The engineer will assist the team with other sections of the report as determined by the MAIT team leader. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL Joint Operational Policy Statement

32 2. The engineer will assist in conducting in-depth investigations of severe and complicated traffic accidents and incidents. These investigations will include, but are not limited to, the collection and compilation of roadway and traffic data relevant to accidents or incidents as follows: the overall roadway environment, design speed, horizontal alignment, superelevation, grade, signs, signals, pavement and roadway delineation, coefficient of friction, traffic volume, accident history, damage to state property, damage to the environment, and ambient weather factors. 3. The engineer will present completed report findings and conclusions to interested parties. The engineer will give legal deposi- tions, and testify in court as required. The engineer may be required to provide training to Caltrans, CHP, allied agencies, and Caltrans public contractors. Coordination of these activities, attendance at meetings, and administrative duties will be performed as required. 4. The engineer will accept functional direction from the MAIT sergeant in charge of the team. Personnel and civil service adminis- trative issues are to be addressed by the engineerʼs first line supervisor at Caltrans. 5. The engineer assigned to the Division MAIT Program will not exercise supervision in the capacity as the Caltrans MAIT Engineer. However, the engineer may provide limited direction at the scene of an accident or incident to CHP officers and Motor Carrier Specialist-I personnel. This direction will relate only to the effective utilization of these personnel during the collection of physical evidence, documentation of the highway conditions, and the proper use of the Total Station Survey System (TSSS) and related surveying techniques. FUNCTIONAL SUPERVISION Any dispute between a Caltrans engineer and MAIT team leader that cannot be resolved at the team level will be rectified through the chain of command. JEFF MORALES, Director D. O. HELMICK, Commissioner Department of Transportation Department of California Highway Patrol Date Date