The 5i Framework for Crash Investigation & Prevention.
Why the 5i Framework?
Road crash investigations can do more than determine legal responsibility or assign fault. They can help save lives.
The 5i Framework goes beyond understanding what happened. It seeks to understand why a crash occurred and how to prevent similar crashes, deaths, and injuries.
The 5i Framework is currently being demonstrated in Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with the potential for wider international adoption. The original publication appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Accident Analysis & Prevention (Dinh-Zarr, Shuey & Mooren, 2024).
The 5i Principles
The Framework is built around five* complementary principles:
Independent
Free from undue influence
Immediate
Preserve critical evidence early
Impartial
Analyze evidence objectively
In-depth
Identify diverse root causes
Injury Prevention
Recommend measures to prevent recurrence
*A sixth principle is Informing, to provide factual information to families, the public, and government officials.
Progressive Implementation
Recognizing that many countries face constrained resources and competing priorities, the 5i Framework promotes incremental implementation through practical, achievable steps that build crash investigation capability and capacity over time.
5i Virtual Mentoring System
The 5i Virtual Mentoring System (VMS) anchors this approach, complementing training with a practical “learn-by-doing” environment. It extends international expertise by guiding investigators through investigations and preserving knowledge to advance crash prevention.
To implement the 5i Framework and access the VMS, contact:
Kelvin Roberts:
kelvin@next-solutions.ca
Mavis Johnson:
mavis@ctsinstitute.com
Bella Dinh-Zarr, PhD, MPH:
dinhzarr@dinhzarr.org
Thank you to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) for ongoing support and to the FIA Foundation for past support.
