The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which became operational in 1975, contains data on a census of fatal traffic crashes within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To be included in FARS, a crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a traffic-way customarily open to the public, and must result in the death of an occupant of a vehicle or a non-occupant within 30 days of the crash. The 2011 FARS data file used for the statistics in this report was created in August 2012. The updated final counts for 2010 are reflected in this report. The updated final counts for 2011 will be reflected in the 2012 report. Data in the General Estimates System (GES) are obtained from a nationally representative probability sample selected from all police-reported crashes. The system began operation in 1988. To be eligible for the GES sample, a police accident report (PAR) must be completed for the crash, and the crash must involve at least one motor vehicle traveling on a traffic-way and must result in property damage, injury, or death. The 2011 GES file used for the statistics in this report was completed in September 2012. (Author/publisher)
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