Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

Which tire skid marks are generally darker?

1. Front tire skid marks

2. Rear tire skid marks

3. Both front and rear tire skid marks equally

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Front tire skid marks

The darker skid marks are generally produced by the front tires during a braking event. This is because when a vehicle brakes, the front tires typically bear more weight and therefore exert greater pressure on the road surface, leading to more pronounced and darker skid marks. The front tires also have a larger role in steering and stopping the vehicle, contributing to a greater friction effect in these situations. In contrast, the rear tires often do not generate skid marks of the same intensity unless there is significant rear wheel locking or sliding, which is less common during controlled braking scenarios. Consequently, while rear tires may leave marks as well, they are usually lighter than those made by the front tires. The option suggesting both front and rear tires would leave skid marks of equal darkness fails to acknowledge the dynamics of vehicle braking where the front tires engage more actively. Additionally, stating that none of the options is correct disregards the well-established principles of physics as they apply to vehicle dynamics and skid mark analysis.