Fast FARS

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Fast FARS

• Presentation at National Traffic Records Forum
• August 2005

Cathy Downs, FARS Team Leader
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Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)

• The source of information on fatal traffic
  crashes in the U.S.
• Fatality w/in 30 Days of Crash
• 43,000 fatalities/year
• 150 per fatality
• Covers All 50 States, DC, Puerto Rico and the
  Virgin Islands

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Fast FARS

• Reporting of basic information about fatal
  crashes in real-time to Agency managers.
• Quantifying all fatal crashes within two weeks
  after the reporting period
• Quantifying all fatal crashes for holiday periods
  within 24 hours after the holiday end

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• Describe FARS
• FARS is an End-to-End System
• Data Collection-to-Analysis
• FARS Data
• Describes Environment, Vehicles, Involved
  Persons
• Use ANSI D-16 Definitions. Example
• 30-day Rule Not result of Natural Disaster
• National Uniform Data Descriptions

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Uses of FARS Data

• BAC from 0.10 to 0.08
• Motorcycle helmet usage legislation
• Repeat offenders
• Restraint usage laws
• The 65 MPH speed limit
• Safety design of cars and light trucks
• Safety of large trucks on the highway
• Airbag effectiveness research

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• 1. When was FARS Created? How often updated
• 1975 (Predecessor Fatal Accident File, 1972)
• File Publications
• File published 8-months after calendar year
• 100 complete (/-)
• Reports to Congress
• Annual Publications
• Etc.
• Final file published 14-months after calendar
  year
• Early Projection file prepared 6-weeks after ..
• 85 Complete
• Used for early estimations

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2. Number of Annual Records 42,000
Crashes 60,000 Vehicles 60,000 Drivers 100,000
Persons
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• 3. How is Data Collected
• 4. Where is Data Collected
• 5. What are the Sources
• Cooperative Agreements
• State Personnel Gather/Code/Enter
• State Records Files
• Police Crash Reports
• State Vehicle Registration Files
• State Driver Licensing Files
• State Highway Department Data
• Vital Statistics
• Death Certificates
• Coroner/Medical Examiner Reports
• Hospital Medical Records
• Emergency Medical Services Reports

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• 7. What are the Data Elements (138 elements)
• Crash Characteristics
• Describes Crash Environment
• Roadway, EMS, Demographics, etc.
• Vehicle Information
• Characteristics of Vehicles
• Make/Model/VIN, etc.
• Driver Level
• History, Violations, License Status, etc.
• Person Level
• Age/Gender/Ethnicity, Person Type, BAC/Drugs

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FARS is the most referenced motor vehicle crash
data system in the world.

• Even if youre on the right track, youll get
  run over if you just sit there. Wi
  ll Rogers

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Fast FARS
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Why Fast FARS?

• NHTSA administrator requested a system that would
  provide real-time notification of fatalities.
• At any time be able to see how many deaths
  occurred yesterday.
• Identifying where (state, county) the crash
  occurred.
• How many deaths occurred during a holiday period.
• Date/time of crash.
• Jurisdiction

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Direction of Fast FARS

• Fast FARS Process
• Two Phases
• Data Entry Screen (Case Management System) Manual
  entry process.
• EDT automatic data entry process.

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Case Management System

• As soon as notified, case entered into FastFARS.
• Allowing FARS cases to be built as information is
  received.
• A minimum set of data elements.
• Case could roll-up into MDE once minimum data
  available.
• Ability to provide local reports on this new
  timely data.
• Fast FARS to become FARS Case Management System,
  replacing local logs, case tracking systems,
  universally adopted and supported system.
• Fast FARS built to accept EDT in phase two.

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How Will Fast FARS Get Started?

• Implement Entry Screen Interface
• Pilot to evaluate application system
• Oct. 2005 4 or 5 States
• Full implementation 1st year Evaluation of
  process
• Measure against monthly reporting currently
  available
• Monitor States early notification process at
  jurisdiction level

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Early Notification in States

• Conducted a small survey to
• Learn how States are notified of a fatality.
• How soon following a fatal crash.
• What information are they provided.
• Does the State have electronic crash reporting.
• Does the State have their own in-house tracking
  system.

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Challenges to Fast FARS

• 21 State FARS analysts are dependent on other
  state agencies for initial crash data.
• 16 States do not have early notification.
• 28 States use teletype or fax for early
  notification.
• 5 States rely on outside media sources.
• 5 States rely on US mail to transport crash data.
• 11 States provide electronic access for early
  notification.

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Fast FARS EDTElectronic Data Transmission

• Identify States that currently have electronic
  crash reporting systems.
• How fast is their collection and transmission
  of crash data and death notification how
  complete is it?
• Develop an agreement with those States to access
  their system, pulling identified data fields into
  FARS/Fast FARS.

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Pilot Program

• Phase 1 Application System Evaluation
• Start Date
• October 2005
• States Involved
• TBD
• End Date
• December 2005
• Phase 2 Process Evaluation
• All States
• CY 2006
• Monitor Jurisdiction Reporting

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Evaluate Pilot

• Make Corrections
• Bring on More States
• January 1, 2006 all States involved

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Status of Fast FARS

• Near completion on Screen Interface
• Train FARS Analysts (Oct. 2005)
• Establish Procedures in States (back up)
• Gear up team to evaluate/monitor process
• 4 EDT States

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FARS and Fast FARSElements FARS
Fast FARS
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Case Management SystemState Benefit

• States can customize their own fields
• Synchronize the data into MDE

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Fast FARS will continue to develop

• Ultimate Goal - EDT for all
• When youre through changing, youre
  through.
• Bruce Barton