In a traffic crash investigation, what does the term 'skid marks' help determine?

The term 'skid marks' is crucial in traffic crash investigations as they provide valuable information about the speed and direction of the vehicles involved before the crash occurred. When a vehicle tires slide across the surface of the road, they leave behind distinctive marks. The characteristics of these skid marks, such as their length and pattern, can help investigators deduce how fast a vehicle was traveling when the brakes were applied and the angle at which the vehicle was moving.

For instance, longer skid marks typically indicate a higher speed, while the direction in which the marks curve can give insight into the vehicle's trajectory just prior to the collision. This collected evidence plays a pivotal role in reconstructing the events leading up to the crash and establishing potential causes or contributing factors.

In contrast, the other options do not provide relevant insights that skid marks can offer. Skid marks do not reveal the color or make of vehicles, and while they might suggest road conditions to some degree, they primarily focus on dynamics related to vehicle behavior during critical moments of the crash.