RICHARD R. RUTH. P. E.
Ruth Consulting LLC
Ruthconsulting@comcast.net
(313) 910-5809, fax (313) 633-1885
5116 Woodview Court, Dearborn, MI 48126.

Qualifications:

Education:
09/69 03/73 B.S. Electrical Engineering (with Honors) Michigan Technological University
09/73 04/78 M.B.A. Business Administration U. of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Work Experience:
Ruth Consulting LLC, Dearborn, MI 2007-present
Instruct police officers and accident reconstructionists in reading and interpreting EDR’s.
Assist prosecutors in EDR data admissibility hearings.
Conduct EDR accuracy research and publish findings in peer reviewed professional journals to pave the way for improved data admissibility.
Read and interpret EDR’s, assist engineers and lawyers in understanding how to make the best use of EDR data in their cases.
Speak at national and regional accident reconstruction conferences on new developments in EDR’s.
Perform beta testing for the Bosch Crash Data Retrieval system. Assist automobile
manufacturers in improving new releases to Bosch CDR.
Consult on accident reconstruction and analysis including human factors, restraint systems
performance in crashes, and occupant kinematics.

Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI 1973-2006
2001-2006 Manager of Design Analysis Vehicle Dynamics and Interior, managing 15 engineering
supervisor level employees performing field investigations and technical support for Ford’s
Office of the General Counsel and Product Development relating to handling and stability in rollover accidents, roof structure, glass, doors, restraints, and seating.
Personally conducted field investigations of accidents related to Event Data Recorder readouts and performance of restraints systems, and worked with NHTSA, NTSB, police, and NICB.
Gave 30B6 corporate and expert depositions, and trial testimony as needed.
Member of Ford Event Data Recorder (EDR) Policy Committee; contributed to Ford and
Auto Alliance responses to EDR NPRM and Part 563 EDR final rule requirements.
Led release of Ford EDR to Vetronix Corp that makes Crash Data Retrieval (CDR).
Ford member of SAE "Vehicle Event Data Interface" Committee authoring standard J1698
on event data recorder output format.
Speaker on Event Data Recorders at 2004 SAE/NTSB technical meeting on EDR's.
1997-2000 Manager of Design Analysis Interior, managing 8 engineering supervisor level
employees, similar to the above but subject areas limited to restraints and seating.
1995-1996 Project Manager of Mark VIII and Thunderbird vehicle programs.
1992-1994 Business Planner in Project Alpha, bringing new technology to market faster.
1984-1992 Product Planner in small car and powertrain planning, responsible for Escort.
1973-1984 Product Engineer, in a wide variety of Transmission and Chassis and
Vehicle Engineering, including responsibility for developing the steering column airbag system, electronic controls for transmissions, rear axles, transaxles, power steering, and driveline NVH.

Additional Data:
Registered Professional Engineer, State of Michigan #6201025362.
Completed Northwestern University "Traffic Accident Reconstruction for Engineers".
Completed “Human Factors for Traffic Accident Reconstruction and the use of DRIVE” by the Accident Dynamics Research Center
Completed NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Technical Training – certified CPS technician.
35-Year Member, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Member of the Vehicle Event Data Interface Committee, presenter at the 2004 and 2007 Highway Vehicle Event Data Recorder Symposiums. Member of AIRP committee (Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Practices).
Peer reviewer for SAE EDR related accident reconstruction papers for 2009 World Congress.
Current Instructor for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and
Management (IPTM) in EDR – taught 5 day EDR classes for Missouri State Police, Indiana State Police, and in Chicago, Jacksonville, and Detroit areas Certified Vetronix Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) system technician instructor, Former Instructor for Collision Safety Institute “CDR Operator Certification” class and Train the Trainer class.
Presenter at the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Crash Data Retrieval User’s Conferences, Houston, TX
Presented EDR update at the University of North Florida (UNF) IPTM 2008 & 2009 “Special Problems in Traffic Accident Reconstruction”
Member of the crash crew for the IPTM Special Problems 2009 Conference handing EDR and VBOX instrumentation. Presented EDR readouts from crashes versus reference instrumentation to conference attendees.
Presenter at the Midwest Association of Traffic Accident Investigators, June 2009 on EDR.
Member of the crash crew for the Collision Safety Institute/Accident Reconstruction Network (ARC-CSI) 2007 Crash Conference.
Presenter at the Southwest Association of Traffic Accident Investigators (SATAI) conference 2007 on EDR’s
Former Member ASTM, serving on Forensic Science Committee 30.05, work group 4150, developing Standard for EDR readout procedure.
Member of NAPARS – National Association of Professional Accident Reconstructionists
Presenter at the Illinois Association of Technical Accident Investigators conference Sept. 2009
Presenter at the Pennsylvania State Police Accident Reconstruction Seminar Sept. 2009
Member of the Midwest Association of Technical Accident Investigators

Publications:
“Accuracy of Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Event Data Recorders”, SAE 2008-01-0162, by Ruth, West, Engle, and Reust, presented at SAE World Congress April 15, 2008.

“Dynamic Accuracy of Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Event Data Recorders During ABS
Braking”, by Ruth and Reust, Collision Magazine, Spring 2008.

“The Accuracy of Speed Recorded by a Ford PCM and the Effects of Brake, Yaw, and Other Factors” by Reust, Morgan, and Ruth, Collision Magazine, Spring 2008

“Accuracy of Selected 2008 Chrysler Airbag Control Module Event Data Recorders”, SAE 2009- 01-0877 by Ruth and Reust, presented at SAE World Congress April 22, 2009

“Accuracy of Selected 2008 Ford Restraint Control Module Event Data Recorders”, SAE 2009-01- 0884 by Ruth, West, and Nasrallah, presented at SAE World Congress April 22, 2009.

“Accuracy of Selected 2008 Chrysler ACM EDR’s During Braking” by Ruth and Reust, Collision Magazine, Spring 2009

“Using Ford PCM Data to Evaluate Deceleration Rates, Brake Time and Impact Speeds” by
Reust, Ruth, and Morgan”, Collision Magazine, Spring 2009