Using a novel data linkage approach to investigate potential reductions in motor vehicle crash severity – An evaluation of strategic highway safety plan emphasis areas. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tainter, Francis; Fitzpatrick, Cole; Gazillo, Jennifer; Riessman, Robin; Knodler, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of safety research. Volume 74(2020)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Data linkage -- Traffic safety -- Crash data system (CDS) -- Emergency medical services (EMS); Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Accidents, Occupational -- Periodicals; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; Accidents -- Prévention -- Périodiques; Accidents -- Prevention; Industrial safety; Periodicals; 363.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2020.04.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4375

Abstract

Highlights: Developed linkage between police and EMS reported crashes for in-depth analysis of outcomes. Found differences in injury severity levels between rear-end and other crash types. Evaluated crash causation and injury outcomes for various traffic safety emphasis areas. The findings can be coupled with a paired hospital admissions data in future analyses. Abstract: Introduction: With the significant number of motor-vehicle fatalities occurring on the nation's roadways in recent years, there exists a need to integrate a more complete range of data sources, available at a regional or statewide level, to effectively evaluate existing safety concerns and quantify their impacts. Crash data alone does not provide ample crash-associated citation, injury, and roadway characteristics; therefore, a more cohesive dataset is required to accurately and completely analyze the true impacts of motor-vehicle crashes. Previously developed strategies linked crash data with citation and roadway inventory data to enhance the identification and optimization of highway safety strategies. Method: The main objective of this research focused on developing a new deterministic linkage between crash and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data, by utilizing the Massachusetts Crash Data System (CDS) and the Massachusetts Ambulance Trip Record Information System (MATRIS). Results: After several iterations of match criterion, the validated linkage successfully matched 58.3% of MATRIS records (containing an Injury Cause of Motor Vehicle Crash) to a CDS person record (55011 linked pairs, between 2014 and 2016). The data linkage provided significant insight into injury trends in several highway safety emphasis areas such as roadway departure, speeding-related, and distraction-affected crashes. The findings from this research are twofold: (1) an established process for linking previously separate data sets, and (2) a mechanism for analysis that provides decision-makers and safety professionals with a better measure of crash outcomes.