Traffic safety is a critical concern in New Jersey where annual traffic crashes typically exceed 200,000, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), with many of them resulting in non-fatal injuries that have lifelong impacts on victims. Currently, this data is not easily accessible. Researchers, advocates, and the public have an interest in accessing up-to-date crash data with geographic and contextual information in order to identify areas with safety concerns, conduct analyses, and advocate for effective policies.
This study included a survey of all states to analyze practices surrounding crash data availability and reporting, as well as interviews with subject matter experts, including state DOT staff, transportation advocates, public health professionals, and university researchers. The interviews revealed key themes that are critical for understanding how traffic crash data can be used to improve road safety. A central issue emphasized by nearly all stakeholders is the need for non-fatal crash data. While data on fatal crashes is available through the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), information on non-fatal crashes, which make up over 99% of all crashes, is not easily accessible. During interviews, advocacy groups, public health professionals, and local researchers stressed that focusing solely on fatalities misses a significant portion of the safety challenges on roadways.
An additional key theme throughout interviews was the importance of publicly available dashboards that display all crashes and allow users to filter for certain roadway or crash characteristics. These dashboards allow the public, decisionmakers, and advocates to better access and interpret crash data. Interviewees emphasized that most of the users of these dashboards were interested in localized areas, including specific neighborhoods or intersections. Dashboards and maps provide a way for communities to understand exactly where crashes are happening, identify priority areas for safety improvements, and advocate for policy changes to help prevent future crashes. Many states have been slow to implement such tools and, when they do exist, often fail to include geocoded or timely data, limiting their effectiveness.
Quality, transparent, and accessible data helps to inform policy and empowers communities. The findings from the interviews and review of crash data sharing practices across the U.S. suggest that the policies of many states are not supporting the national goals of roadway safety and Vision Zero. Still, the interviews revealed several best practices that could provide opportunities for improving crash data throughout the United States:
Data Accessibility and Publicly Facing Dashboards
Statewide traffic safety dashboards that include geocoded data, real-time updates, and interactive maps can empower advocates, researchers, and the general public to access detailed crash information and make informed decisions about where to prioritize safety interventions. While providing raw crash data is important for researchers, dashboards should also be designed to include maps, summary reports, and querying options.
Non-Fatal Crash Data and Data Integration
While the public can access fatal crash data using the USDOT FARS platform, these crashes make up less than 1% of all reported crashes. Data on fatal crashes alone shows a small subset of the larger picture. Analyzing fatal crashes alone is not enough to develop a comprehensive understanding of traffic safety problems. Additionally, integrating other datasets, such as roadway information, school zone conditions, hospital data, etc., can help identify effective safety interventions and policy changes.
Data Quality and Standardization
The quality of crash data collection and reporting varies significantly from state to state. One of the most pressing issues is the inconsistency in geocoding crash locations. New Jersey should take steps to improve the accuracy and consistency of geocoding, potentially through partnerships with universities or other research institutions to ensure that crash data is correctly mapped. Additionally, the state should work to ensure that data reporting is timely, focusing on creating a near-real-time data submission process—other states have seen success in this area with electronic reporting systems that are being implemented in New Jersey.