New Tool Helps States Align Crash Data with Federal Guidelines

New Tool Helps States Align Crash Data with Federal Guidelines

New publication from GHSA and NHTSA will help states 
map crash data to the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC)
to improve data sharing and comparison

WASHINGTON, D.C. –In today’s highly connected world, it helps to standardize data across industries so that data can be shared. This is no different in the world of traffic safety. While there has been a voluntary federal guideline for crash data in place since 1998, states often use different formats and names for data elements and attributes, or they may combine (or split) the elements and attributes used in the guideline. As a result, it can be very difficult to compare or share crash data among states, between state and federal data sets, and—in some cases—even between different agencies within a state.

Over the past year, GHSA worked with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help states determine how well each state's Police Accident Report (PAR) and crash database aligns with this federal guideline. The resulting document, Mapping to MMUCC, is a voluntary guideline for mapping state data elements to the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria Guideline(MMUCC) 4th Edition.

MMUCC is a minimum, standardized data set for describing motor vehicle crashes and the vehicles, persons and environment involved. The guideline comprises 110 data elements: 77 that are to be collected at the scene and 33 that are linked with other databases or derived from MMUCC data elements. By providing a "minimum" set of data elements, MMUCC helps states collect reliable crash data, effectively guide enforcement planning, and shape sound traffic safety policy.

The development process for Mapping to MMUCC included the preparation of draft mapping rules, the solicitation of feedback from State Highway Safety Offices and traffic records professionals on the draft rules, and a pilot effort that mapped data from two states to MMUCC. The final tool includes a complementary mapping spreadsheet that is intended to assist states in calculating their compatibility ratings.

“Producing quality shareable data is critically important to improving traffic safety,” said Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director of GHSA. “This new tool will help states be better able to benchmark their progress against their peers and share their data so that they can identify state issues and trends and federal safety agencies can better understand national highway safety issues and develop appropriate policies in response.”

Mapping to MMUCC and the complementary mapping spreadsheet are available for download from the GHSA website (www.ghsa.org), as well as from the MMUCC website (www.mmucc.us).
 

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About GHSA
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GHSAhq or follow us on Twitter at @GHSAHQ.