Area police learn from accident expert
St. Charles police wanted an experienced person to train their traffic officers in accident investigation.
So they went to Rusty Haight.
It's not hard to see why. Haight holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for participating in the most human crash tests -- now just over 870. A former San Diego police officer, he has been "wrecking" -- as he calls it -- for 18 years, and he is host of the Discovery Channel show "Accident Investigator."
Haight is conducting a five-session seminar for St. Charles police and other area departments with his partner, Jerry Eubanks, and he completed the hands-on session in windy, cold conditions Thursday at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago.
Haight heads the San Diego-based Collision Safety Institute, which does automotive crash testing and training.
He drove an old Buick Century into "Matilda," a 70-pound, life-sized dummy seated on a bicycle, at 30 mph and sent her flying 50 feet. Commander Dave Kitnz and other St. Charles police were on hand to observe, take measurements and analyze.
"Traffic safety is about the three 'Es,'" Haight said between collisions. "That means education, enforcement and engineering. If there are problems on the road, the way to fix them is through one of those three.
"If you have 100 crashes at the corner of Walk and Don't Walk, and there is no investigation or analysis being done, there is no chance of preventing the 101st."
Haight said that training helps officers gain a better understanding of why a crash happens, and consequently enables them to make better recommendations on how to prevent traffic accidents.
An engineering decision could mean changing the speed limit or constructing a speed bump. An enforcement recommendation might mean writing a bunch of tickets.
"You have to change behavior, but you have to know what the problem is," Haight said. "These guys will do a better job with better understanding."
Haight has survived his 870-plus crashes, mainly car into car or car into motorcycle, with only two minor injuries. He always wears a seat belt, and he wears knee pads and a football mouthpiece.
After all this punishment, he is still enthusiastic when he thinks about the officers he trains.
"People talk about SWAT teams, but traffic officers are out there helping on the road with cars flying by," he said. "What they do saves lives. They are unsung heroes."