Safety is a major concern for roadway practitioners across the United States. In many states, the Native American population is disproportionately represented in fatalities and crash statistics. Native Americans’ risk of motor-vehicle related death is about 4 times that of the general population. The risk is even higher for the population between 4 and 44 years old. Improved crash reporting by tribal law enforcement agencies would enable tribes to apply more successfully for state and federal funds for safety improvements. Some of the causes behind the underreporting include tribal law enforcement capacity (e.g., staffing shortages and turnover, and lack of equipment, software, and training), lack of standardization in crash reporting forms and protocols, and issues of relations between the state and tribes. Improving crash reporting systems requires a relationship with the state agencies built on trust and effective collaboration. Without accurate reporting of all crashes on tribal lands, it is difficult or impossible to fully understand the nature of the problem and develop appropriate countermeasures. These may include effective transportation safety planning and programs aimed at DUI prevention, pedestrian safety, roadway safety improvements, seat belt usage, child restraints, etc. Under NCHRP 17-49, a research team led by University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted a critical review of the root causes of the issues and deficiencies related to tribal crash reporting systems and programs as well as best practice and success stories. In addition, this review identified those methods which have been successful in any aspect, i.e., beyond crash data, and illustrated how these successes can be utilized in the area of tribal crash reporting. The research team also did a nationwide query-based data collection, which gathered first-hand data from tribes and state agencies along with their success stories and lessons learned in practicing tribal crash reporting. The research led to the development of a guidebook with three main components. Part 1 provides self-assessment tools for state agencies and tribes. The self-assessment tools are designed to provide a quick assessment of the effectiveness of existing crash data collection and management, and the current level of communication and collaboration between tribes and state agencies. Part 2 of the guidebook provides information to both states and tribes to help identify solutions to issues associated with (1) establishing and maintaining communication and relationship between tribes and states; (2) building tribal crash data collection system; (3) implementing state-tribal crash data sharing; and (4) improving tribal traffic safety with crash data. Part 3 contains reference and source materials. The guide is accompanied by a CD (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_788.iso) containing a supplemental report documenting the research approach and findings, as well as colour PDF copies of case study flyers meant to be used as hand-outs and reference material at meeting, conferences, and events. The CD also contains a double-sided three-fold flyer designed to promote the use of this guidebook via graphical presentation of function and summary of the guide. (Author/publisher)
Abstract