Why Should You Have Accessibility to Crash Data?

Why Should You Have Accessibility to Crash Data?

Because…..• Improvements in producing high quality cause-of-death

data are crucial for improving health and reducing preventable deaths. (World Health Organization)

• It removes the guesswork and efficiently places resources where they can best be used

• It can assist in receiving federal funding for education, engineering and enforcement projects

• It assists in reducing crashes, fatalities and serious injuries

• It is your Data

• It Saves Lives

Can You Explain It Without the Crash Report? Must be a Fixed Object Crash

Typical Data Analyzed from Crash Report

(Not a Complete List)• Crash Type• Primary Cause• Secondary Cause• Weather condition• Traffic Control Device• Lighting Condition• Event Location• Vehicle Type• Alcohol Use• Road Surface Condition• Number of Lanes• Injury Classification

Crash Data Analysis• Understanding “Why” there is a

problem

• Leads to beginning stages of Problem Identificationo Mapping of crash locationso Summarizing of all data elements

• Avoid making assumptions

Very Important !Crash Report

Narrative/Diagram

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Ran off road to the left

and overturne

d

Lost control in the snow

and crossed

into opposing

lane in front of a

semi

Ran off the road

to the left and hit a

utility pole

Swerved to miss a deer and ran off the road to

the left striking a

utility pole

SB pickup ran a stop sign and

struck eastbound

pickup

Crash report

not found

WB vehicle veered from its

lane

Dropped a wheel off on

the right, overcorrected,

ran off the road to the

left, overturned

Lost control

and crossed

into opposing

lane; head on

SB vehicle missed a stop sign and hit

passing WB semi

Motorcycle dropped off to the

right, overcorrec

ted and overturned

on pavement

SUV dropped wheel off to

the right, lost control, and overturned

on pavement

WB pickup dropped a

wheel off to the right,

overcorrected, ran off to the left and hit a

house

EB car dropped a

wheel off to the right,

overcorrected, ran off to the left and overturnedEB car lost

control and slid sideways

in front of opposing

traffic

WB SUV crossed

pavement off to the south

side, re-entered EB

lane, and hit EB pickup

truck

EB car hydroplaned in water at RR

underpass and left road to the left, hitting the curb

SB van pulled from stop in front of EB

pickup

And Yes sometimes they are Entertaining…..but Rarely!

• Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have!

• The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intent!

• I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.

• In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.

Eliminate Assumptions in Data Analysis

• Easy to assume cause based on “data” alone

• The Narrative on the crash report from the Officer at the scene is extremely important

• Verify cause through use of narrative/ diagram

• Don’t Stop There -- Eliminate as many Assumptions as possible

• Do Site Reviews

Can you get copies of these or just Data generated from them?

FHWA/IDOT Process Review

• IDOT/FHWA meet once a year to Select Process Review Topics

• Selection of topics should be based on real or perceived opportunities for improvement

• IDOT/FHWA recommend topics for review

• Final topic selection based on consensus of both IDOT/FHWA management

Availability and Use of Crash Data Process Review

Assess the AVAILABILITY and ACESSIBILITY of:

Illinois Crash Reports and Data

for the purpose of: IMPROVING problem identification and

safety countermeasure selection

Scope and Methodology• Evaluate

o Stakeholder Accessibility to Crash Reports/Datao Stakeholder use of crash information

• Document o Illinois Lawo IDOT Policies/Practiceso Types of crash data systems in use

Interview/Survey Contacts Data Users/Owners

• IDOTo Chief Counsel’s Officeo Division of Traffic Safetyo Bureau of Safety Engineeringo Bureau of Local Roadso Districts 1,4

• Illinois Association of County Engineers Safety Committee

• Chicago Department of Transportation• Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning• State, County and City Law Enforcement• Consultants• Emergency Medical Services

Crash Data Accessibility Survey

• Over 2000 surveys with 338 Responses

• to:o County/City Engineerso Law Enforcemento Metropolitan Planning Organizationso IDOT Districtso Consultantso Emergency Medical Services

Survey Results• 50.6 % Law Enforcement

• 30.8 % Engineering

• 18.4% Other Userso (Public/Private Sector)

Does Your Organization Use Crash Data?

• 68% Yes

• 32% No (18.1% want it)o 11.5% Don’t Need It (Really?)o 9.5% Would access if they couldo 8.3% Don’t know how to accesso 0.3% Tried to acquire it but can’to 2.4% No Response

How do you access crash data

• 36.4% Use Hard Copy Filing Systems of Completed Crash Reports

• 29.3% Use Local Agency Electronic Data Base

• 22.5% Uses IDOT Systemo 17.5% from IDOT Division of Traffic Safetyo 7% from IDOT Bureau of Safety Engineeringo 0.3% Use IDOT Safety Data Mart

• 11.8% Other o Websites, GIS, Own software, MCR, Don’t try etc.

Can you run your own crash data queries?

• 40.2% Yes

• 35.2% No

• 24.5% No Response

Does your organization have an internal system for

storing/analyzing crash data?

• 37.2% Yes

• 62.8% No or No Response

What issues have you experienced in accessing

crash data?• 28.4% No Problems

• 23.9% No Response

• 16.9% Cannot access IDOT Safety Data Mart

• 12.1% Slow Response Time

• 9.7% Miscellaneous responses fromo Too slow, SDM Too Difficult to use, Not enough current Data

• 8.9% Inaccurate Data

What method do you prefer to access crash data?

• 29.3% No Response

• 25.7% Password protected system through IDOT

• 25.1% Current method is sufficient

• 16.3% Internet

• 3.6% Othero Would like to meet to discuss the options, the

narrative of the crash report is imperative, enhanced County system

Illinois Law• 625 ILCS 5/11-411 “Accident Report Forms”

o IDOT has duty to prepare and supply crash report forms to police agencies

o The written reports must have detailed information in accordance with standards.

o (Pub. Act 78-255)

Illinois Law (cont.)• 625 ILCS 5/11-408 “Police to report motor

vehicle accident investigations” (Pub. Act 96-1147, eff. 7/21/10)

o Police must submit all crash report to IDOT

o Upon request, the Department shall furnish copies of its written crash reports to federal, state, and local agencies that are engaged in highway safety research and studies. (effective date July 2010)

Illinois Law (cont.)• 625 ILCS 5/11-412 “Motor vehicle accident

reports confidential”

o All required written accident reports shall be for the confidential use of the Department and SOS

o The Department may furnish copies of its written accident report to “federal, State, and local agencies that are engaged in highway safety research and studies (Pub. Act 95-757, eff. 7/25/08)

Illinois Law (cont.)• 625 ILCS 5/11-414 “Department to tabulate

and analyze motor vehicle accident reports”(Pub.Act 95-757, eff. 7/25/08)

o Department shall tabulate and may analyze all written motor vehicle accident reports and shall publish annually or at more frequent intervals statistical information based on as to the number and circumstances of traffic accidents.

Draft Observation/Recommendation

• Observation: The language of four IVC statutes relating to

crash reports and data has been interpreted in different ways over the years, is confusing and leaves gray areas for interpretation

• Recommendation: Ensure all safety users have adequate

accessibility to complete crash data for safety.

Draft Observation• Observation:

There seems to be a lack of formal IDOT policies and guidelines regarding the use

of crash reports, there dissemination, review and updating

Draft Recommendation

• Create policy and guidelines to include:

o What crash “data” or “reports” can be released

o Define what information on crash report is “personal” and “confidential” and what can/cannot be released

o Clarify who can receive data including the media, general public, researchers, consultants etc. and under what circumstances

o Create guideline for regular review and updating of crash report form

o Adhere to a strict schedule for completion of year end crash data within a certain time period

o Create provisional data use policy

Draft Observation

• Factors such as lack of personnel, technical knowledge, time and difficulty accessing their own data, problem identification through the review of crash reports is difficult to produce for many county, city and state agencies.

Draft Recommendation

• Provide user friendly access to crash report images, mapped locations of crashes and query system to facilitate a more efficient and timely review of crash data

• Include Enforcement, EMS, Education and Engineering

Draft Observation• Many agencies commented that they

were not aware of many techniques of crash data analysis and would like more training if it were available.

Draft Recommendation• Create and provide training for crash data

analysis to County, City, State agencies in the Education, EMS, Enforcement and Engineering fields for better problem Identification and countermeasure selection.

Best Practice• IDOT District offices generally agree that they have

good access to:

o Crash Report Images

o Crash Data

o GIS Maps

Recommendation: Review possible access of these systems for the rest of the data users.

Illinois Statistics in 2012

• 956 People Died on Illinois Roadways

• 274,111 Crashes

• 83,768 Total Injuries

• 12,401 “A” Type Injuries (Incapacitating)

o Why?

o Where?

o When?

o How Do We Fix It?

The End

Illinois Crash Fatalities: 1920 - 2012Year Fatalities Year Fatalities Year Fatalities Year Fatalities Year Fataliti

es1920 728 1940 2,328 1960 1,725 1980 1,994 2000 1,41

81921 887 1941 2,600 1961 1,822 1981 1,852 2001 1,41

41922 1,003 1942 1,706 1962 1,890 1982 1,671 2002 1,42

01923 1,031 1943 1,328 1963 2,028 1983 1,553 2003 1,45

41924 1,065 1944 1,355 1964 2,207 1984 1,572 2004 1,35

51925 1,533 1945 1,587 1965 2,256 1985 1,552 2005 1,36

31926 1,611 1946 1,862 1966 2,522 1986 1,617 2006 1,25

41927 1,744 1947 1,948 1967 2,493 1987 1,685 2007 1,24

81928 2,057 1948 1,939 1968 2,499 1988 1,860 2008 1,04

31929 1,984 1949 1,791 1969 2,533 1989 1,748 2009 9111930 2,285 1950 1,973 1970 2,346 1990 1,589 2010 9271931 2,367 1951 1,992 1971 2,400 1991 1,448 2011 9181932 2,109 1952 2,135 1972 2,254 1992 1,384 2012 9561933 2,177 1953 2,179 1973 2,369 1993 1,392    1934 2,575 1954 2,059 1974 2,007 1994 1,554    1935 2,334 1955 2,195 1975 2,084 1995 1,586    1936 2,461 1956 2,135 1976 2,073 1996 1,477    1937 2,598 1957 2,096 1977 2,170 1997 1,397    1938 2,177 1958 1,886 1978 2,166 1998 1,393    1939 2,261 1959 1,795 1979 2,048 1999 1,456    

Illinois Motor Vehicle Deaths

Year Fatalities Increase/Decrease2007 1,248 Decrease .5% from

20062008 1,043 Decrease 16.4%

from 20072009 911 Decrease 12.6%

from 20082010 927 Decrease 1.8%

from 20092011 918 Decrease 1.0%

from 20102012 956 Increase 4.1% from

2011As of Oct 21, 2013 799 Provisional Increase 1.0% from

2012

National Motor Vehicle Deaths

Year Fatalities Increase/Decrease2007 41,259 Decrease 3.4%

from 20062008 37,423 Decrease 9.3%

from 20072009 33,883 Decrease 9.5%

from 20082010 32,999 Decrease 2.6%

from 20092011 32,367 Decrease 1.9%

from 20102012 34,080 Projected Increase 5.3% from

20112013 ?????? ??????

2012 National Projection

34,080

Motor Vehicle Fatalities

Issued May 2013