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All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
| SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
| REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: |
| Occupational Diploma: Road Crash Investigator |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 121162 | Occupational Diploma: Road Crash Investigator | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Development Quality Partner-SASSETA | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| - | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| Occupational Dip | Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security | Safety in Society | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 376 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 06 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0820/23 | 2023-11-14 | 2028-11-14 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2029-11-14 | 2032-11-14 | |||
| In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
| PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
| The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Road Crash Investigator.
A road crash investigator adopts an analytical approach to plan, assess, interpret causes of road crashes through the establishment and co-ordinating of incident management teams and providing evidence to support the judicial process. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: The need for this qualification stems from the necessity to standardise the training and work performed by the road crash investigators across the country. In terms of the state of road safety in the country, South Africa continues to experience one of the highest road death rates in the world by far. Given this context it is imperative that road crash investigators fully understand the complexity of road safety to be effective problem solvers in their field. On the contrary, there is a fragmented approach when it comes to road crash investigation across the country. The same road crashes are investigated by different stakeholders namely, (Municipal/Metro Police and Provincial Traffic Departments, South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) as well as various private road crash investigators. The current crash investigators are at arguably varying skills with duplication of functions in various authorities across due to the absence of a formal qualification. This qualification will assist in standardizing the training and will increase capacity for road crash investigation across the country. Currently, due to capacity constraints only major road crashes wherein three or more fatalities are involved are being prioritised for investigation. Therefore, the introduction of an NQF registered qualification will provide a formal credit-bearing qualification that will ensure that trainees are trained following the same investigative principles and techniques. This will harmonise the processes of road crash investigation across the various government institutions and private sector through a common NQF registered curriculum. Consequently, this will allow evidence-based research, traffic engineering advancements, legislative amendments, enhanced law enforcement operations and road safety education programmes. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is mandated by the National Road Traffic Act, Act 93 of 1996 and the Road Traffic Management Corporation Act, Act 20 of 1999 to ensure road safety in South Africa. The RTMC, being the lead agency in road traffic, confirmed the need for the development of a qualification for Road Crash Investigators as an integral part of achieving the National Development Plan (NDP) and the Human Resource Development Strategy South Africa (HRDS SA). This qualification responds to the government priorities of reducing injury, accidents, and violence by 50% from the 2010 baseline and strengthen the justice system as well as ensuring a developmental and capable state. This qualification will equip current and prospective road crash investigators who wish to enter this field with the necessary skills knowledge and understanding to effectively understand the complexity of road crash investigation. The exit level outcomes of this qualification makes it a unique one with currently no similar qualification registered on the NQF to achieve the same outcomes. There is currently no formal registered qualification available for a Road Crash Investigator except the informal and non-credit training offered by the SAPS, RTMC and some private and independent road crash investigators. The Road Crash Investigators working in the field are forced to undergo local un-accredited short training courses focusing on specific areas of the Road Crash Investigation field for self-development. These short training courses are extremely limited which means that to further their skills in the field these practitioners are obliged to register for overseas short training courses in this field. The benefit to the road crash investigation fraternity will be a pool of highly trained and skilled road crash investigators in implementing road incident management system, road crash evidence collection and documentation from various perspectives, and presentation of evidence in the court of law. The economy will grow as more ethical and legally compliant road crash investigators will be deployed to investigate the unacceptably high levels of road carnage on our public roads. Detailed road crash investigation reports will provide road safety orientated recommendations to road engineers when constructing roads. This will in turn, contribute to minimising the road carnage caused by poorly constructed roads which costs the South African economy in the region of R300 billion per annum. It is envisaged that the detailed road crash investigation reports to be compiled by the road crash investigators trained from this qualification will also assist the Road Accident Fund (RAF) and the insurance companies in curbing the fraudulent claims and unjustifiable pay-outs. It will also provide valuable information to improve roads and road infrastructure which will in turn benefit the economy by providing employment to individuals. Society will also benefit from safer roads emanating from recommendations made in detailed reports to address problems identified in relation to road infrastructure, law enforcement and road safety initiatives. Detailed road crash investigation reports will also assist the judicial process in the successful adjudicating of criminal and civil litigation emanating from road crashes. Proper road crash investigation will ensure that the correct recommendations are made to the relevant stakeholder so that the losses to society caused by road crashes are prevented. The overall benefit to the society will be a reduction in trauma and suffering to road crash victims and their dependants since less road crashes might be experienced than it is currently the case. The typical learners are the new entrants with an interest in road crash investigation as well as currently practising road crash investigators with no formal qualification. Learners who successfully complete this qualification will be eligible to operate as Road Crash Investigators. No registration with any professional body is envisaged since there is currently no professional body approved and recognized by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) currently in this field. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| RPL for Access to the Qualification
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result. Entry Requirements: |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills, and Work Experience modules.
Knowledge Modules Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 172 Practical Skill Modules Total number of credits for Practical Skills Modules: 134 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 70 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Evaluate and interpret appropriate methods, procedures or techniques for compliance of vehicles involved in crash.
2. Apply mathematical science and formulae to measure and calculate vehicle dynamics and damages. 3. Process, manage and evaluate the road crash evidence from various perspectives. 4. Produce Road crash evidence from various perspectives. 5. Produce and communicate complex information reliably and coherently using appropriate formats and technologies for a given context. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
ELO 1: Evaluate and interpret appropriate methods, procedures or techniques for compliance of vehicles involved in crash. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: ELO 2: Apply mathematical science ad formulae to measure and calculate vehicle dynamics and damages. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: ELO 3: Process, manage and evaluate the road crash evidence from various perspectives. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: ELO 4: Produce road crash evidence from various perspectives. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: ELO 5: Produce and communicate complex information reliably and coherently using appropriate formats and technologies for a given context. Integrated Assessment: Formative Assessment The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment (EISA). Summative Assessment An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner, is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. A written assessment consisting of various question types with the inclusion of scenarios regarding all the exit level outcomes will be used. The assessment will be conducted through a written assessment to evaluate theoretical skills at decentralised approved assessment sites within a period of one day. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The Occupational Diploma: Road Crash Investigator was compared internationally with a qualification from Australia and best practices in the United States of America. The USA qualification was used for comparison regarding best practices because there are no other accredited/registered programs elsewhere in the world.
Australia The Bachelor of Accident Forensics is offered by the Central Queensland University at Brisbane, Bundaberg, Queensland and Sydney campuses on a part time, full time, and online platform over a period of three to six years. This qualification is pitched at the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) Level 7. If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Furthermore, applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent). The Accident Forensics degree develops expertise in the investigation and analysis of the factors which lead to accidents and the interventions required to prevent their recurrence. Accident Forensics qualified learners demonstrate advanced skills at systematically breaking down the factors leading to an accident and making the necessary findings and conclusions for prevention. Amongst others, major areas of study include occupational health and safety, human factors investigation, victim pathology, investigative methods practice, accident phenomenology, accident analysis, introduction to forensic science. This qualification is geared to generate career opportunities in management and consultancy roles within safety and accident investigation fields. Employment opportunities exist in many industries such as manufacturing, mining, transport, aviation, police force, defence force etc. Similarities: Both the Bachelor of Accident Forensics in Australia and the Occupational Diploma: Road Crash Investigator in South Africa broadly cover similar topics, namely accident analysis, human factors investigation, investigation methods. Both countries require a secondary qualification as an entry requirement into their courses. Both Australia and South Africa require work placement with practicing accident investigators as mentors in the field to ensure that the student is well prepared to integrate into the field of investigation. Furthermore, in Australia learners are required to complete a capstone accident investigation project based on a 'real' accident reconstruction at the university 'crash lab' which is similar to simulation of the crash accident scene in South Africa. This represents critical areas of resemblance that cut across the two qualifications from these two countries. Differences: In the case of the Bachelor of Accident Forensics career opportunities extends to roles in primary, rural, mining, services, manufacturing, defence force, aviation, employer associations, health industries. In contrast, the Occupational Diploma: Road Crash Investigator prepares a qualified learner to operate as a Road Crash Investigator within the local, provincial, and national government of the department of transport, police service and as a private road crash investigator. Therefore, a qualified learner in South Africa cannot operate as a crash investigator in mining, manufacturing, services or aviation. The Australian Bachelor's Degree for Accident Forensics can be offered part-time, fulltime and or online by the university while the Occupational Diploma: Road Crash Investigator in South Africa is available via Recognition of Prior Learning/Experience and is offered by a training provider accredited by the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO). Whilst in Australia a student will also qualify with professional skills in occupational health and safety and will be well prepared to work in that area and may apply for the award Diploma of Workplace Health and Safety in addition to the Bachelor of Accident Forensics, this is not the case in South Africa. In Australia, Bachelor of Accident Forensics is not limited to road traffic crash investigation in the transport sector but extends to other sectors like mining, manufacturing, and aviation. This is different from the Republic of South Africa where road crash investigators are trained separately from other investigators in other sectors. The United States of America: In USA short courses in road crash investigation and reconstruction comprising of various levels of crash investigation are offered in-campus and online by the North-Western University Centre for Public Safety situated in Illinois and the Institute of Police Technology and Management in Florida. The sequential series of Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Program in both states are the bedrock and serve as a prerequisite to advanced crash reconstruction courses. Layout for a Crash Investigation Course at the North-Western University and the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) respectively: The following are amongst others some of the qualifications approved by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR) offered by the IPTM, University of Florida. Competent learners in the following qualifications are eligible for Continuing Education Units (CEU): The above qualification do not have specific entry requirements per se. However, a few do need some prerequisites courses. Furthermore, the North-Western University in Illinois, offers five core sequential crash investigation & reconstruction qualification. Each of the five essential qualifications builds on the previous qualification and is a mandatory prerequisite for the next in the sequence. The five sequential core courses include: This short qualification, also regarded as the first level of crash investigation provides a trainee crash investigator with basic knowledge to confidently preserve and document significant physical results before the crash scene is altered or evidence disappears. There is no specific entry requirement into this course. This level two crash investigation short course builds upon topics examined in Crash Investigation I and provides learners with greater knowledge of the information available at the crash scene how to properly collect it, and how to initiate its interpretation. The prerequisite for enrolling in this course is Crash investigation I, however, there is no specific entry requirement that has been indicated. This course focuses on mechanics, the study of motion and forces, and the effects of such forces during a crash. Vehicle Dynamics is an introduction to basic mathematical procedures and the basic laws of physics necessary for those who wish to attend Traffic Crash Reconstruction II and Traffic Crash Reconstruction II.Participants should possess an understanding of physics and math skills from high school level. The prerequisite for enrolling in this course is Crash investigation I and II. This qualification teaches the foundations of reconstruction to learners who are new to the crash reconstruction profession. Participants should possess an understanding of physics and math skills that include highschool level algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The prerequisite for enrolling in this qualification is Crash investigation and II, Vehicle dynamics. Traffic Crash Reconstruction I is a continuation of learning based on the skills obtained in Reconstruction II. Learners should possess an understanding of physics and math skills that include high school level algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The prerequisite for enrolling in this qualification is Crash investigation and II, Vehicle dynamics, Traffic Crash Reconstruction I. Similarities Areas such as preparation for traffic crash investigation, information from and about people, information from vehicles, information from roads, vehicle dynamics (behaviour) in crashes, lamp analysis, tyre analysis, measuring and mapping the crash scene and photographing the crash scene and damaged vehicles cut across and form the basis of training in crash investigation within the United States of America and the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Differences The North-Western University in the USA offers the five short qualifications sequential series in crash investigation and ACTAR approved and CEUs eligibility courses at the IPTM. In the RSA the crash investigation qualification is available as a three-year training offered at the QCTO accredited skills development provider/s on a fulltime basis. The three-year course in RSA comprises of three components of learning, namely the theoretical part, practical part, and the work experience part. When it comes to the short qualifications offered at the North-Western University and the IPTM, the major percentage of the qualification is theoretical knowledge with some practical aspects and no work experience component at all. In USA short qualifications in road crash investigation and reconstruction comprising of various levels of crash investigation are offered in-campus and online by the North-Western University Centre for Public Safety situated in Illinois and the Institute of Police Technology and Management in Florida. The sequential series of Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Program in both states are the bedrock and serve as a prerequisite to advanced crash reconstruction courses. Prospective learners in USA wishing to enrol for the basic crash investigation qualifications I and II can register and attend training online or in campus as no specific entry requirements are in place. However, when it comes to vehicle Dynamics, Traffic Crash Reconstruction I and II Participants should possess an understanding of physics and math skills that include high school level algebra. In the RSA prospective learners must have grade 12 secondary education achieved in specific subjects to gain entry or may undergo Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an entry into the qualification. The USA does not require a learner to do work integrated learning and or shadow work with practicing crash investigators as mentors in the field to ensure that the learner is well prepared to operate in the field of investigation. In the RSA learners are required to undergo work experience exposure with an experienced crash investigator for a specific period. On completion of the work experience exposure the learner will write an external integrated summative assessment and be awarded with the qualification if found competent. This is not the case in the USA. Conclusion: Based on the above, the Occupational Diploma: Road Crash Investigator in the Republic of South Africa, compares favourably with the Bachelor of Accident Forensics in Australia and the standard laid down for a series of short courses in crash investigation offered by the North-Western University and the Institute of Police Technology and Management in the United States of America. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: Diagonal Articulation: |
| NOTES |
| Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of a statement of results and statement of work experience. Where applicable, proof of successful completion of relevant subjects/modules or alternative programmes will be used to qualify learners for an external assessment. Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements: Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers: Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code are: Road Crash Investigator: 335502-001-00-00. Encompassed Trades: Assessment Quality Partner: |
| LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| NONE |
| PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
| NONE |
| All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |