FDOT Safety Office Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Improving Accuracy and Efficiency of Florida Traffic Records through Automated/Electronic Data Collection Traffic Record Forum, Nashville, Tennessee, July 2004 by Raju Mantena & Dr. Lisa K. Spainhour Research Funded by Florida Department of Transportation

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Outline  Overview of the Research  Motivation of Research  Objective of Research  Methodology/Approach  Results  Improvement in Accuracy  Preliminary Analysis  Concluding Remarks

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G General Overview  What is TraCS? Traffic and Criminal Software Crash Reporting Software  Applications of TraCS  What is my role in this research Developing TraCS-Florida (Programmer) To solve real-life problem for law enforcement agencies

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Research Motivation  Quality of the data Data Accuracy Completeness Consistency  Cost  Time Taken for the Crash Data Collection Life Cycle

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Research Objectives  To Improve Accuracy and Efficiency of Florida Traffic Records  Development of Crash Reporting Software (TraCS-Florida)  To perform time study analysis Time taken to collect the data using TraCS Time taken to confirm accuracy of TraCS- Florida input To determine the number of key strokes reduced by using various time saving tools

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Methodology/Approach  Design of TraCS-Florida  Development of TraCS-Florida  Testing and Implementation Phase  Pilot Study  Ride – alongs and Data Collection  Data Analysis

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Crash Data Collection Life Cycle: Current Officer's notes at scene Data entry into local databases Mail to DHSMV DHSMV to PRIDE PRIDE Data entry Edit checks & corrections Location entered by FDOT Data analysis Months Type & copy report

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Crash Data Collection Life Cycle: Proposed Transmit to DHSMV Officer's notes at scene Data entry into local databases Mail to DHSMV DHSMV to PRIDE PRIDE Data entry Edit checks & corrections Location entered by FDOT Data analysis Months Type & copy report 8 hours

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Roadside Data Capture And Location Data Analysis Transmit to Department of Transportation 8 hours Crash Data Collection Life Cycle Crash Data Collection Life Cycle START

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Screen Shot of TraCS-Florida

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Equipment used in Conjunction with TraCS Laptop Magnetic Stripe Reader Printer GPS Unit

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Results Started with seven agencies initially with 4-6 officers per agency. Now have approximately 40 to 45 agencies in Florida using or preparing to use the TraCS software. Jacksonville Sheriff’s office and Leon County Sheriff’s office were selected for ride alongs. Ride alongs performed in 2 phases (i) Pre-TraCS and (ii) With TraCS.

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Improvement in Accuracy Vehicle/Pedestrian Section Contributing Causes Section

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Contributing Causes Group in TraCS

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Bad Hand Writing

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Duplicate DHSMV Numbers

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Case Studies Team members have attended to 29 crash sites in a period of 3 months. 79% of responding officers used TraCS 21% of officers did not use TraCS Preliminary analysis was performed

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Data Collection Form

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Preliminary Analysis Completion Time- Long Form Case study with random samples. Case study with random samples. Time Reduction of approximately 22%. Took less time in TraCS with magnetic stripe reader then not using a magnetic stripe reader. Took less time in TraCS with magnetic stripe reader then not using a magnetic stripe reader. Took less time in TraCS without a magnetic stripe reader Took less time in TraCS without a magnetic stripe reader then filling a report manually. then filling a report manually.

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Completion Time- Short Form Similar trend is observed in this case. Similar trend is observed in this case. Time Reduction of approximately 30%. Took less time in TraCS using magnetic stripe reader. Took less time in TraCS using magnetic stripe reader.

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Completion Time- With Experience Period of 3 months. Period of 3 months. Time Reduction of approximately 21%. Time Reduction of approximately 21%.

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Conclusions Efficiency & Accuracy of traffic records can be improved with TraCS. Forms with TraCS are more legible Forms with TraCS are more accurate Best application using magnetic stripe reader for the Florida Driver License. Efficiency differs based on the learning curve, equipment provided and mindset of an officer.

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Conclusions Contd.. Training decreases the time dramatically. Pilot with TraCS served as a motivation to the agencies for further automation within the agency. More agencies in Florida are interested in using the Electronic data collection system.

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Acknowledgement Dr. Lisa K. Spainhour Issac A. Wootton FDOT: Richard Sotter All Organizers of Traffic Record Forum Police officers Deputy Jay Vaughn Officer Daun Hauer Sgt Tim Coughlin Other Officers

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – Florida State University C O L L E G E O F E N G I N E E R I N G Questions Thank You If you need to know more about this project. Check the site Or Contact Lisa K. Spainhour