Gouge Mark
Definition
A scrape or trench cut into the pavement when a metal component (frame, axle, undercarriage) strikes the road during or after impact. Pinpoints the position of the vehicle at maximum collision force.
- Cause
- Metal vehicle component contacting pavement
- Appearance
- Scrape or trench cut into the road surface
- Significance
- Marks point of maximum collision force
- Category
- Vehicle mark evidence at a collision scene
Common questions
How does a gouge mark differ from a scratch or scuff mark at a crash scene?+
A gouge is cut more deeply into the pavement, typically by a hard metal component like an axle, frame rail or undercarriage part under heavy load, while scuffs and scratches are lighter surface marks usually left by tires or sheet metal without the same depth.
Why is the location of a gouge mark useful in reconstructing a collision?+
Because it typically forms at the instant of maximum engagement between vehicles, its position helps investigators anchor the point of impact on the roadway, which is then used with debris fields and skid marks to reconstruct vehicle paths and speeds.
Can gouge marks help determine which vehicle caused them?+
Investigators compare the mark's width, depth and metal transfer residue against the underside components of vehicles involved to associate a specific gouge with a specific vehicle, similar to tool mark comparison in other contexts.
Related terms
- Braking Mark
- A continuous black skid produced when wheels are fully locked under braking and the tyre slides on the road. Length plus drag...
- Drag Factor (μ)
- The effective coefficient of friction between the tyre and the road surface during a braking event. Used in the skid-mark speed formula....
- EDR (Event Data Recorder)
- An onboard module that records pre-crash speed, throttle, brake application, steering input and seatbelt status for several seconds before airbag deployment. The...
- Paint Transfer
- Layers of paint left on a struck vehicle, pedestrian's clothing, or roadside object during contact. The layer sequence, ordered from primer outward,...
- Yaw Mark
- A curved, striated tyre impression produced when a vehicle slides at an angle to its direction of travel during a steered or...