The goal of this project was to analyse the collection and management of highway safety data by identifying issues and costs, and proposing means of resolving those issues and reducing the costs. Initial emphasis addressed known elements of the highway safety system, with an emphasis on collecting and storing relevant data. Sources included the literature and what the States, local agencies, and researchers throughout the Nation were doing to improve data handling for the three largest sources: traffic crash, roadway inventory, and crash injury (emergency medical services and trauma). Visits to various providers of data throughout the United States helped identify and classify issues, along with exemplary practices. A total of 41 issues were listed that affected collecting, storing, and managing traffic crash, roadway inventory, and medical data. The most important issue is that of quality, with data accuracy being the most critical. Lack of coverage is becoming an increasing problem that affects information used to recommend countermeasures. A major thrust of the research was directed toward identifying the costs of collecting, reporting, and managing safety data. Lack of cost data or lack of applicability of most data collected for roadway inventory and crash injury preclude an extension of the cost model beyond that of crash reporting. The three processes--collecting, reporting, and managing crash data--are estimated to cost $19.20 per crash report filed, based on personnel and equipment costs, but disregarding "sunk costs". Additionally, the report estimates a range of costs by severity of the crash, number of vehicles involved, and region of the country. These ranges were found to be significantly less than those estimated by others. Finally, a set of strategies was identified, along with goals to be met. The research team identified 23 strategies that were capable of being introduced without requiring substantial additional effort. A number of strategies were taken from exemplary practices discovered at the State and local levels. Each of these strategies was evaluated as it related to meeting the goals and objectives, and reducing the costs of operation. The report concludes with a discussion of how strategies may be grouped and introduced as a package. All of the recommended strategies will provide both short- and long-term benefits. (Author/publisher)
Abstract