New AIU Equipment Saves Time, Money; Makes For Smoother Commute

The Gwinnett County Police Department said the new GPS surveying system used by the Accident Investigation Unit has worked out well, reducing road closures and making for smoother commutes. It has also significantly reduced the manpower required at major accidents.

According to a press release from GCPD public information officer Cpl. Jake Smith, time and labor saved by the new equipment has already surpassed the orginal cost of the equipment. Smith said the new GPS system can be operated by a single officer and takes about 1/3 of the time.

"Complete measurement of an accident scene can now be completed during the initial investigation, and the roads do not need to be closed a second time for further measurement," Smith said in the press release. "The portability of the unit, and the ability for a single officer to operate it, allows investigators to take measurements during normal traffic cycles (for example, during red lights)."

GCPD is the only police agency in Georgia to use this system. The AIU is responsible for investigating all of the fatal or life-threatening motor vehicle accidents that occur in Gwinnett County. This unit is also responsible for conducting the follow-up investigation of hit-and-run accidents. These investigations often require reconstructing the crash scene to scale and in some cases, producing a three dimensional animation of the events involved in the crash. GCPD is sometimes called in to help other municipalities that don't have this equipment.
 
Smith said in the past, these types of accident scenes took up to three hours to investigate. Lane closures, or total road closures are often required during that time. Using the old system, small accident scenes usually required a minimum of eight officers to properly survey. Larger scenes could require up to 20. The old system also required investigators to mark a scene, and return some time later to take precise measurements, requiring the road to be closed a second time.