What is a characteristic of yaw marks?

Prepare for the NC BLET Traffic Crash Investigation Test with detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations. Ensure your success with our comprehensive exam preparation!

Yaw marks are an important feature to observe at traffic crash scenes as they provide valuable information about the dynamics of a vehicle's motion during an incident. The characteristic that accurately defines yaw marks is that they curve and have distinctive striations.

When a vehicle experiences a loss of traction while cornering or maneuvering, the tires skid in a curved path rather than a straight line. This results in marks on the pavement that exhibit a curving pattern. The striations are caused by the friction between the tire rubber and the roadway, which can create identifiable patterns that indicate the nature of the vehicle's movement. These details help investigators understand the vehicle's trajectory and the circumstances surrounding the crash, including speed and steering input at the time of the incident.

Other characteristics, like always being straight or indicating sudden stops, do not align with the behavior of yaw marks as they specifically relate to a vehicle's lateral movement during turns or skids, rather than linear motion or abrupt halting. Therefore, the curvature and distinctive striations of yaw marks provide crucial insight into the events leading up to a crash.

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