The United States Department of Transportation The F atality A nalysis R eporting S ystem July 2003 HQ, FARS Program Analyst Kathy M. Silks

The United States Department of Transportation

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System

July 2003

HQ, FARS Program Analyst

Kathy M. Silks

3

Overview

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System

FARS Overview

4

Who Are We?The National Center for Statistics and

Analysis (NCSA), is an office of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), that provides analytical and statistical support to NHTSA and the highway safety community through data collection, crash investigations, and data analysis.

5

What is it?

Developed in 1975

All fatal crashes in the United States, including Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico

Fatality within 30 days of the crash

6

How does it Work?

NHTSA has cooperative agreements with state transportation agencies to provide information in a standard format on fatal

crashes. The cooperative agreements are managed by Regional Contracting Officer’s

Technical Representatives (RCOTRs) located in each of the 10 NHTSA Regional

Offices.

7

MDE System

Micro Computer Data Entry System (MDE)

Data collection and progress monitored via intranet daily

Each FARS Analyst in each state has a PC workstation Analyzed data is entered, range and edit checks performed

Hotline available for problem solving

8

Today’s Discussion

BAC test results reported and coded in FARS and the issues underlying this complex data collection process.

9

BAC CountryTotal

“Drunkness” Russia1

0.08 -0.1 U.S.A. 10.08 Canada, Ireland, Luxemburg, Malta, New

Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe 10

0.05 Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, S Africa, S Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey

25

Legal BAC in the World

10

BAC CountryTotal

0.04 Lithuania 10.03 Georgia, Moldova 2

0.02 Norway, Sweden 2

0 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, KyrgistanRomania, Slovakia 8

Legal BAC in the World

11

Wide range of reporting BAC levels

• Recent data on the level of reporting alcohol test results of drivers and non-occupants by state involved in fatal crashes ranged from:– Less than 12 Percent– More than 86 Percent

• 14 % to 88 % of the BAC test results are missing in FARS – dependent on the state

12

FARS Analyst and BAC Data Collection

• Process of data collection, where does it start?

– Analysts learn of a traffic fatality– Receives a PAR from source– Gathers additional data

• PAR supplemental info, hospital records, medical labs, out of state requests, personal contacts

– Codes and enters data into FARS system– Follows up for missing information

13

Data Sources

Driver Records

52 Remote Sites

Vehicle Registration

EMS Records

Police filling out PAR at crash site

State Sources

Data Collection, Coding and Data Entry

Data Entry

Quality Control, File Construction, and Administrative Controls

HQ Process

US Departmentof Transportation

Public Access,Traffic Safety Publications,Data Files,Query Applications

Data & Info

14


• Where and why does it breakdown?

– State Issues– FARS Analysts– Data Collection – Coding

15

• State Issues– Not all States test– Each State has its own laws and procedures

for testing and reporting requirements– State vs FARS data files– BAC Imputation Method used when alcohol

test results are unknown– Lack of data may cause loss of State Grant

Funds– Quality of sample due to survival time and

storage accessibility

FARS Analyst and BAC Data

16

• Accurate sampling• Accurate testing• Accurate interpretation• ACCURATE CONCLUSIONS

Accurate Evaluation of BACs

17

• In calculating the number of suspected drinks and the severity of intoxication– Not considering the time of the last drink– Not considering: weight, sex, race

and experience

Sources of Error in BAC evaluation

18


• FARS Analysts Issues– State budget restraints– Logistics of BAC reporting unit– Lack of outside contacts or frequent turnover– Lack of knowledge of FARS reporting

requirements and procedures– Medical Examiners vs. Coroner vs. Other– ME or Coroners’ lack of knowledge of law

requirement or interpretation of testing obligation– State legislation varies– Indian Reservations/ Forest Service Data

minimally or not available

19


• Data Collection Issues– States vary in BAC testing laws

• Mandatory• Discretionary• No law to test

– States vary in responsibility for testing• Hospital pathologist• Medical Examiner• Coroner• Physician• Mortician• Other designated persons under State law

20

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

T

Data Elements

Roadway Profile

Sta

te

Nu

mb

er

County

Accid

en

t d

ate

Accident Time

Sp

eed

Lim

itLighting Conditions

Atm

osp

heric

Con

ditio

ns

Number of Occupants

Veh

icle

Mod

el

Vehicle Make

Veh

icle

Year

Vehicle Speed

Veh

icle

VIN

Vehicle Cargo

Veh

icle

Ow

ner

Driver Zip Code

Driv

er

Heig

ht

Driver Weight

Driv

er D

rivin

g

Histo

ry

Age of Person

Gen

der o

f Perso

n

Impairment of Person

Race

of

Perso

n

ETC.

ETC.

ETC.

ETC.

120+

Each crash in FARS has more than 120 different coded data elements that characterize the crash, the vehicles and the people involved.

21

(continued)

Data Elements

Data Elements at the Accident Level

Data Elements at the Vehicle Level

Data Elements at the Driver Level

22

(continued)

Data Elements

Data Elements at the Person Level:

Person Type and Location

Restraint Usage

Alcohol and Drug Involvement

Injury Severity

23

• Police Reported Alcohol Involvement– 5 Element Values

• Blank• NO (Alcohol Not Involved)• YES (Alcohol Involved)• Not Reported• Unknown (Police Reported)

FARS Analyst and BAC Data Coding

24

• Method of Alcohol Determination by Police

– 8 Element Values • Blank• Evidential Test (breath, blood, urine)• Preliminary Breath Test (PBT)• Behavioral• Passive Alcohol Sensor (PAS)• Observed• Other (e.g., Saliva test)• Not reported


25

• Alcohol Test Type/Result

– Blank

– Alcohol Test Type10 elements (not tested, whole blood, breath, urine,

vitreous, blood plasma, liver, blood clot, other, not tested)

– Alcohol Test Result6 elements (actual value, .94 or greater, test refused,

none given, AC test performed/results unknown, unknown if tested)


26

• FARS File Timelines

– FARS analysts get BAC results 6-9 months after fatality date

– More complete data in the Final File reports vs. the Annual Report File


27

Working Efforts to Increase Data Collection Efforts

• NHTSA, Traffic Injury Control

– National Commission Against Drunk Driving• On site State BAC Forums

– Preusser Research Group • Study based on BAC testing and reporting

procedures in detail in ten states

28

Processes Working to Increase Data Collection Efforts

(continued)

• NHTSA FARS– FY02 – FARS HQ staff analyzed FARS BAC issues by State– New BAC Imputation Methodology Implemented– FY03 - FARS Regional Meetings emphasize BAC issues– FARS SWT03 Annual Conference:

• Review of Coding Techniques and Data Collection • BAC Forum• BAC Best Practices • NHTSA, Math Analysis Division BAC Briefings

29

Summary

• Continue to close the gap with sources• Encourage standardized reporting• Promote FARS at every level• Encourage BAC Forums• Promote Best Practices

Know your FARS Analyst

30

Web Encyclopedia

FARS Web Based Encyclopedia URL:http://www-

fars.nhtsa.dot.gov

31

32

Contacts

Mr. Kenneth Rutland

Phone: (202) 493-0055E-Mail: [email protected]

Ms. Kathy Silks


Mr. Barry Eisemann


FARS Program Manager

FARS Team Leader

FARS IT Manager

Raj Subramanian

Documents

The United States Department of Transportation The F atality A nalysis R eporting S ystem July 2003 HQ, FARS Program Analyst Kathy M. Silks