Overcoming Local Crash Data Limitations Michael Briggs Transportation Planner Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City, Missouri
“Someone else’s shoes”
Local Safety & Crash Data Public Meeting March 28, :30 a.m. NKC Community Center North 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 % +/- Kansas Missouri
What we’ve heard… CommentsAccomplished 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… CommentsAccomplished Do not post locations online Add safety belt useKansas only Add motorcycle fatalities Add age according to CDC cohorts 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