Mission: The mission of FARS is to make vehicle crash information accessible and useful so that traffic safety can be improved

Mission: The mission of FARS is to make vehicle crash information accessible and useful so that traffic safety can be improved

NHTSA created FARS in 1975 National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) Created to assist the Traffic Safety Community

Traffic Safety Problems: Hazardous intersections Risky Driver behaviors Age specific behaviors Road maintenance issues Traffic volume issues Weather related factors Collisions with animals

Traffic Safety Problems: Red light running Motorcycle safety measures Workzone issues Railway crossing issues Pedestrian and bicyclist related concerns Alcohol and Drug related concerns

Evaluating motor vehicle safety standards Vehicle specific issues Airbag effectiveness Restraint effectiveness Rollover prevention Commercial Vehicle standards Fire suppression systems Safety Glass effectiveness Vehicle computer systems

Evaluating Highway Safety Initiatives Click It or Ticket programs Ignition Interlock devices DUI Enforcement Media campaigns Graduated Drivers licenses Distracted Driving reduction efforts Red light cameras Traffic stops

Evaluating Highway Safety Initiatives Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) Strategic Traffic Enforcement Partnerships Highway Fatality Memorial Signs Traffic Safety Corridors High Visibility Enforcement programs REDDI Report Campaigns

Illustrates environmental, roadway, vehicle, driver, pre-crash, occupant, and non-occupant factors Identifies the roles of repeat offenders Supports restraint and helmet usage laws Strengthens state grant performance measures Substantiates grant proposals Influences speed limits Effects vehicle safety designs Impacts airbag effectiveness research

National Census of Motor Vehicle Fatalities Sole source of National statistics on police reported fatalities 50 States, DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Over 3,000 requests for info each year NHTSA contracts with each State

Documenting the information at crash scenes is a time consuming but imperative task, and it is one of the most important functions of the Law Enforcement Officers at the scene Why is this information necessary? What information is used?

The data collected in Police Collision Reports are used by: Police Administrators Traffic Engineers Lawmakers Vehicle Manufacturers Animal Welfare Organizations State HSOs and NHTSA

NHTSA State and Local Governments Research Organizations Private Citizens The Auto Industry Insurance Industry Medical Community Highway Safety Improvement Programs Law Enforcement State Road and Traffic Engineers Congress Media Advocacy Groups

FARS has provided the data that: Changed national BAC laws from.10 to.08 Influenced legislators to establish primary seatbelt legislation in many states Instituted many safety features on state and federal highways Started DUI Traffic teams Started Vehicle Inspection Programs Helped implement safer Child restraints Helped create remote emergency response programs Helped create vehicle safety features that are now standard

FARS data may be used for: Developing and evaluating program effectiveness Identifying problem locations in a region Identifying problem issues in a region Reporting seatbelt usage Reporting alcohol and drug use Defining target audiences for programs Evaluating new technologies

FARS data may be used for: Understanding the nature, causes, and injury outcomes of crashes Discovering emerging traffic safety issues and problems Determining priorities and supporting decisionmaking Targeting resources where they will be most effective Understanding the strategies and interventions that will reduce crashes and their consequences

1. At least one motor vehicle in-transport on a trafficway customarily open to the public 2. At least one human fatality 3. The Fatality must occur within 30 days (720 hours) of the crash 4. The Fatality must be as a direct result of the crash 5. The fatality must not be a result of deliberate intent

Public Trafficway Public Trafficway Space Space Mall Space Space Space Public Trafficway Aisle

Crash Information Incident # Crash Date Crash Time Crash Occurred in (City, Borough) Posted Speed EMS Run # Latitude / Longitude Roadway / Junction Type Weather Roadway Character Road Surface Lighting Name of Street or Highway Miles / feet / at intersection w/ N / S / E / W Cross Street, Bridge, etc. Crash Description / Violation Violation Section(s) Ticket Description Location of First Sequence of Events First Sequence of Events, Collision, Non-Collision Crash Diagram

Driver Information Unit # Driver Name (Last, First, MI) Sex DOB OL / ID# State License Class Ejected Extricated Zip Code Environment Circumstances Injury Status Driver Restraint / Airbag Alcohol / Drugs Suspected Test Given BAC Level Transported Human Circumstances Transported By Transported To

Vehicle Information Vehicle Damage No. of Occupants Location of First Impact on diagram Vehicle Owner Name (last, Firs, MI) VIN State Vehicle Year Make Model Direction of Travel Vehicle Town Yes / No Vehicle Configuration (non-commercial) Vehicle Configuration (Commercial) Body Type (Commercial) Vehicle Circumstances Vehicle Action Roadway Circumstances Traffic Control Second Sequence of Events, Collision / Non-Collision

Carrier name Gross Weight (lbs) Carrier ID # State Carrier ID Source Issuing Authority Placard Haz-Mat Released Commercial Vehicle Information

Passenger Information Unit # Name (Last, First, MI) Sex DOB Person Type Seat Location Restraint / Airbag Information Ejected Extricated Injury Status Transported Yes / No Transported By Transported To

From a completed Investigation Report: Details of the crash not included in the Initial Crash Report Related roadway or environmental factors Special purpose vehicle (e.g. taxi, school bus, military, police, ambulance, fire truck, EMS, etc.) Travel speed of each vehicle Vehicle maneuver just prior to the time of the crash Crash avoidance maneuvers Rollover, location of rollover Jackknife of articulated vehicles Details of the sequence of Events Vehicle related factors Driver behavior related factors Exact Pedestrian location BAC and Toxicology results Death date and time Passenger, pedestrian, or other non-driver related behavioral factors

Overtime salaries for DUI enforcement Therapeutic courts Media campaigns Traffic Safety Teams DPS Crime Lab Bureau of Highway Patrol Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors

Law Enforcement equipment such as: Computers Cameras LIDAR packages Barricades Radar Units In-Car video systems Total Stations Portable breath testers Vehicles

BAC and Toxicology Reporting is crucial to Receive NHTSA funding

FARS does not assign fault Data coded by each data element No personal information ever goes into FARS Privacy and security are IMPORTANT Only the FARS Analyst sees the reports All documents are kept under lock and key

EMS DMV Law Enforcement Officers Vital Statistics Hospitals Medical Examiner or Coroner Commercial Vehicle Enforcement DOT Roadway Inventory Crime Lab STATE FARS OFFICE FARS National Office FARS Online Encyclopedia US Congress NHTSA Quarterly Reports NHTSA Statistical Office Annual Reports from State Transportation Agencies

Once the FARS Office Receives the Initial Crash Report Driver Operator s License #s Driver Records from the DMV Vehicle s VIN Vehicle Registration Records from DMV The EMS Run # and Name Info from Responding EMS The MP #, Street Names Exact Roadway Info from DOT Names, DOB, Case #, Date, Time MEO, Crime Lab, Vital Stats, & Commercial Vehicle Enforcement

160 Motor Vehicle Fatalities and Fatal Crashes, Alaska 1975-2009 140 Fatalities and Fatal Crashes 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 200720082009 Fatalities 112 125 135 127 90 88 100 105 150 134 127 101 76 97 84 98 101 108 118 85 87 81 77 70 79 106 89 89 98 101 73 74 82 62 64 Fatal Crashes 98 109 127 112 80 79 90 96 135 120 107 89 70 86 79 92 90 89 88 70 75 72 68 63 73 93 80 78 87 96 66 71 75 55 59 Source: The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

Alcohol-Related Fatalities Compared to Total Fatalities, Alaska 1994-2009 120 100 80 Fatalities 60 40 20 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total Fatalities 85 87 81 77 70 79 106 89 89 98 101 73 74 82 62 64 Alcohol-Related Fatalities 51 47 43 41 31 40 56 47 37 37 31 37 23 35 28 23 Percent Alcohol-Related 60 54 53 53 44 51 53 53 41 38 31 50 31 43 45 36 Source: The Fatality Analysis Reporting System, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

Joanna S. Reed Research Analyst / Alaska s FARS Analyst Alaska Highway Safety Office State of Alaska, DOT&PF 907-465-8532 Fax: 907-465-4030 joanna.reed@alaska.gov