What do yaw marks indicate about a vehicle's motion?

Yaw marks are created when a vehicle slides sideways as it travels, typically during a turn or curve, and this provides significant information about the vehicle's motion. The presence of yaw marks indicates that the vehicle likely experienced a loss of grip and began to slide, suggesting that it was traveling too quickly to maintain control while negotiating the curve.

When the vehicle's speed exceeds what is necessary to maintain proper traction during a turn, centrifugal forces will cause it to skid and create yaw marks. These marks are typically curved in nature, reflecting the direction of the vehicle's rear end as it slides outwards, which corresponds with the vehicle's inability to maintain its intended path through the turn.

Other options do not accurately represent what yaw marks indicate. They may suggest different scenarios pertaining to braking intentions, straight-line motion, or a total loss of traction, but these don't align as closely with the typical characteristics and implications of yaw marks seen in traffic crash investigations.