Why is measuring the distance of skid marks important in traffic investigations?

Measuring the distance of skid marks is crucial in traffic investigations because it provides insight into the speed of the vehicles at the time of the crash. When a driver applies the brakes suddenly, the skid marks left on the road can be used to calculate the speed based on factors such as the braking force, the coefficient of friction of the road surface, and the length of the skid marks. This quantitative data can help investigators reconstruct the circumstances of the crash, establish how fast the vehicles were traveling, and determine if speeding was a factor in the incident. This understanding can be vital in assigning fault and understanding the dynamics of the crash.