What kind of marks are caused by tires that are freely rotating but also sliding to the side?

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!

The correct choice, which identifies the marks caused by tires that are freely rotating while simultaneously sliding to the side, is yaw marks. These marks occur during maneuvers where a vehicle is in a sideward slide, typically as a result of losing traction during turns or evasive actions. Yaw marks are distinguished by their curved shape, which reflects the trajectory of the vehicle as it rotates or pivots around its axis while skidding.

Understanding the specific characteristics of yaw marks is essential in traffic crash investigations, as they can indicate the vehicle's path and behavior during the incident. This helps investigators reconstruct the events leading up to a collision and assess factors such as speed and vehicle dynamics.

Skid marks, in contrast, are produced when tires experience a complete loss of traction and do not rotate, resulting in a straight line that indicates the distance a vehicle traveled while sliding. Gouge marks are indentations in the roadway surface caused by a sharp object on the vehicle, and print marks refer to impressions left by tires or other parts on the ground, which do not relate to the behavior of the vehicle during a slide. Understanding these differences is crucial in accurately interpreting the physical evidence at a crash scene.

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