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

3. 3 Overview The F atality A nalysis R eporting S ystem FARS Overview

4. 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. 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. 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. 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. 8 Today’s Discussion BAC test results reported and coded in FARS and the issues underlying this complex data collection process.

9. 9 BACCountryTotal “Drunkness”Russia1 0.08 -0.1U.S.A.1 0.08Canada, Ireland, Luxemburg, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe10 0.05Argentina, 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, Turkey25 Legal BAC in the World

10. 10 BACCountryTotal 0.04Lithuania1 0.03Georgia, Moldova2 0.02Norway, Sweden2 0Armenia, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kyrgistan Romania, Slovakia8 Legal BAC in the World

11. 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. 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. 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 Department of Transportation Public Access, Traffic Safety Publications, Data Files, Query Applications Data & Info

14. 14 FARS Analyst and BAC Data Collection Where and why does it breakdown? –State Issues –FARS Analysts –Data Collection –Coding

15. 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. 16 Accurate sampling Accurate testing Accurate interpretation ACCURATE CONCLUSIONS Accurate Evaluation of BACs

17. 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. 18 FARS Analyst and BAC Data Collection 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. 19 FARS Analyst and BAC Data Collection 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. 20 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT Data Elements Roadway Profile State Number County Accident date Accident Time Speed Limit Lighting Conditions Atmospheric Conditions Number of Occupants Vehicle Model Vehicle Make Vehicle Year Vehicle Speed Vehicle VIN Vehicle Cargo Vehicle Owner Driver Zip Code Driver Height Driver Weight Driver Driving History Age of Person Gender of Person Impairment of Person Race of Person 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. 21 (continued) Data Elements Data Elements at the Accident Level Data Elements at the Vehicle Level Data Elements at the Driver Level

22. 22 (continued) Data Elements Data Elements at the Person Level: Person Type and Location Restraint Usage Alcohol and Drug Involvement Injury Severity

23. 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. 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 FARS Analyst and BAC Data Coding

25. 25 Alcohol Test Type/Result –Blank –Alcohol Test Type 10 elements (not tested, whole blood, breath, urine, vitreous, blood plasma, liver, blood clot, other, not tested) –Alcohol Test Result 6 elements (actual value,.94 or greater, test refused, none given, AC test performed/results unknown, unknown if tested) FARS Analyst and BAC Data Coding

26. 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 FARS Analyst and BAC Data Collection

27. 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. 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. 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. 30 Web Encyclopedia FARS Web Based Encyclopedia URL: http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov

31. 31

32. 32 Contacts Mr. Kenneth Rutland Phone: (202) 493-0055 E-Mail: Kenneth.Rutland@nhtsa.dot.gov Ms. Kathy Silks Phone: (202) 366-4257 E-Mail: Kathy.Silks@nhtsa.dot.gov Mr. Barry Eisemann Phone: (202) 366-5367 E-Mail: Barry.Eisemann@nhtsa.dot.gov FARS Program Manager FARS Team Leader FARS IT Manager Raj Subramanian