What is a yaw mark?

A yaw mark is indeed a type of tire friction mark that occurs when a tire rotates while slipping, typically in a lateral direction. This phenomenon is often observed during maneuvers where a vehicle is turning or skidding. When a vehicle moves through a turn or during a loss of control, the tire may not have sufficient grip on the road surface, leading to these marks.

Yaw marks provide critical information regarding a vehicle's trajectory, speed, and the conditions of the road during an incident. The patterns left on the pavement can help forensic experts reconstruct events surrounding a crash or determine how a vehicle was maneuvering at the time of impact. Such data is essential in accident investigations to understand how the driver responded to a situation, especially in incidents involving sharp turns or sudden changes in movement.

In contrast, the other options either describe different kinds of marks or evidence patterns that do not specifically refer to the characteristics of a yaw mark. For instance, marks left by a vehicle during evasive maneuvering could include yaw marks but might also encompass other types of tire tracks. Therefore, focusing on the specific definition of a yaw mark clarifies its role in forensic analysis.