Overall, commercial motor vehicle crash data does not yet meet general data quality standards of completeness, timeliness, accuracy, and consistency. For example, according to FMCSA, as of fiscal year 2004 nearly one-third of commercial motor vehicle crashes that states are required to report to the federal government were not reported, and those that were reported were not always accurate, timely, or consistent. Data quality problems most often stem from errors or omissions either by law enforcement officers at the scene of a crash or in the processing of crash reports to a state level database. To address data quality problems, a number of states are undertaking four major types of data improvement activities: • Analyzing existing data to identify where problems are and to develop plans for addressing them; • Reducing backlogs of data that have not been entered into state-level databases in order to create more complete state crash files, through steps such as hiring contract employees; • Developing and implementing electronic data systems for collecting and processing crash information in a more timely, accurate, and consistent manner; and • Providing training, such as educating law enforcement officers on the definitions and criteria for commercial motor vehicle crashes, to create more accurate and consistent data. These state efforts are resulting in some progress. Based on analysis of FMCSA data, a great number of crashes are being reported to FMCSA. Overall, the total number of commercial motor vehicle crashes being reported to FMCSA has increased by 59 percent between fiscal year 2000 and fiscal year 2004, while the length of time it takes states to report these crashes to FMCSA has decreased as well. Author/publisher)
Abstract