Overcoming Local Crash Data Limitations

Michael BriggsTransportation Planner

Mid-America Regional CouncilKansas City, Missouri

“Someone else’s shoes”

Local Safety & Crash Data Public Meeting

March 28, 20068:30 a.m.

NKC Community CenterNorth Kansas City, Missouri

It’s March 28, 2003…

“How many people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the KC metro area in 2002?”

Now on March 28, 2006…

“How many people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the KC metro area in 2005?”

185 fatalities (Preliminary)

(-9.8%)

What we started with…

Roadway Fatalities 2006 2005 % +/-

Kansas 63 86 -26.7

Missouri 210 224 -6.3

What we’ve heard…

Comments Accomplished

Add contributing factors

Need population rates

Need VMT rates

Need last year’s data

Need location information --

Add disclaimer

Add maps --

Need injury & PDO crashes

What we’ve heard…

Comments Accomplished

Do not post locations online

Add safety belt use Kansas only

Add motorcycle fatalities

Add age according to CDC cohorts

Email info in PDF format

Kansas Data

Missouri Data

Data Goal!!

Crash Data Issues

Police Officer/Data Collector Accuracy of Data Location Information Officer Turnover Timeliness

DOT or Patrol/Database Manager State System Bias Other Traffic Records

Cultural Attitudes Bi-State Region Funding Silos

MARC’s Role in Crash Data

Using a “bottom-up” approach Participate in State Traffic Records

Coordinating Committees (TRCC) Advocate crash data importance in

transportation safety planning Looking for funding Provide regional information