ESTIMATION OF VEHICLE SPEED BASED ON SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE AND ITS APPLICABILITY TO FORENSIC CRIMINAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The determination of speed in traffic collisions is a key element in understanding the event and in the potential attribution of responsibility. In this context, audiovisual recordings of the incident serve as a highly relevant source of forensic evidence. This study proposes a video analysis method which, under certain conditions, enables the estimation of a vehicle’s instantaneous speed without the need for on-site re-examination or the presence of spatial markers in the footage. The approach is based on simple geometric principles, is easily replicable, and relies on widely accessible tools. The method is applicable to both linear and mildly curved trajectories, provided that the path does not vary abruptly and that the rear axle follows the same course as the front axle.