Q     What is the origin of the CRASH! package?

A It was created by Professor John Kwasnoski, Professor Emeritus of Forensic Physics at Western New England College, and one of America's leading experts on the forensic reconstruction of automobile collisions to teach physics principles to lawyers and police officers, as well as his own students.

Q     Is CRASH! a curriculum in itself, or a module that has to be presented in totality?

A No. The CRASH! activities are stand-alone activities that are used as homework assignments, laboratory exercises, or even special projects to add real world examples to lessons.

Q     How many schools are currently using the CRASH! activities?

A Over 800 CRASH! kits are in use today, in all parts of the U.S.

Q     Does CRASH! have any corporate sponsors?

A Corporate sponsors include Metlife Auto Insurance, Abbott Laboratories, and Monsanto Corporation (Government sponsors include Hawaii Dept. of Transportation, New Hampshire Dept. of Education, Rhode Island Governor's Highway Safety Office, Colorado Highway Patrol, Connecticut State Police).

Q     What makes CRASH! more effective than other approaches to teaching driving safety?

A CRASH! directly involves students in learning science and math through real-world problem solving. Students do more than just hear lectures or see demonstrations—they actively calculate things like how far a car going 45 mph will travel while its driver looks away from the road for two seconds to adjust the radio, or how fast a car was going before the driver hit the brakes. Students gain a genuine understanding of the implications and consequences of speed, inattention, and alcohol; and that understanding has been demonstrated to modify their behind-the-wheel behavior.

Q     Is CRASH! intended as a course in itself?

A No. CRASH! is a set of activities, both indoor and outdoor, explicitly designed as resources that teachers can select to supplement existing math and science courses.

Q     How can I find time to do the CRASH! activities and still prepare my students for the state-mandated tests?

A The CRASH! activities have been cross referenced to state learning guidelines and educational frameworks, and help teachers prepare for state-mandated tests.

Q     Do teachers need to be specially trained to use the CRASH! package?

A The CRASH! activities are used by teachers in math, science, biology, physics, driver's ed, etc. to help teach topics they already are teaching. No special orientation or training is needed to do the activities.

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