Collision: Misadventure by Motor Car

"In the 1930s, increasing speed and a larger number of vehicles meant road authorities began focusing on the causes of traffic accidents. During this early period of crash investigation police took only one or two photographs, often not at the location where the accident occurred. In these early examples the vehicle is totally removed from the scene making it difficult to speculate on the potential cause of the accident.

"By the mid-1940s, police photographers were documenting the general location of an accident, the damaged vehicles in situ, different viewpoints and close-ups. These photographs helped investigators to determine whether any law had been violated, and, if required, the images were presented as evidence in court."