Crash Records Systems

This synthesis will be of interest to state transportation agency personnel, as well as to other professionals in both the public and private sectors, who deal with the development of successful crash records systems. The report examined practices and programs in search of current information as applied to highway and traffic safety. The following topics were addressed: crash data collection, crash processing and management, and data linkages for reporting and analysis. The situation found was characterized as a patchwork of data that varied widely. Although no single comprehensive system examples were identified, many examples of one or more successful components were found to address the needs of three groups of stakeholdersdata collectors, data managers, and data users. This synthesis also contains information about lessons learned from examples of successful systems, addressing the needs and concerns of stakeholders and repeats this information in the context of suggested improvements for future expansion of the use and capabilities of crash records systems.