TRAFFIC RECORDS COORDINATING COMMITTEE (TRCC)
REPORTS/PUBLICATIONS
TRCC INTRODUCTION
A complete traffic records program is necessary fora comprehensive Highway Safety planning (problem identification), coordination of counter measure strategiesl, and evaluation of a state's highway safety activities. A Traffic Records system is key to the implementation of all highway safety countermeasures and is the key ingredient to their effective and efficient management.
As stated in the National Agenda for the Improvement of Highway Safety Information Systems, a product of the National Safety Council's Traffic Records Committee:
"Highway safety information systems provide the information which is critical to the development of policies and programs that maintain the safety and the operation of the nation's roadway transportation network."
A traffic records system is generally defined as a warehouse of independent and seperate data systems which collectively form the information base for the management of the highway and traffic safety activities for the state and its local subdivisions.
The goal of the Traffic Records assesment is to have an integrated data Collection System for the State of Delaware.
- Both the Strategic Plan and SRD outlined the recommendations neccessary to achieve an integrated Data Collection System.
- This system will combine Crash, DMV, Location, Adjudication and EMS data for comprehensive data Analysis to improve DE's overall Crash Picture.
Chronological Order of Events:
Events for the year 2000 :
Traffic Records Assesment
Assessment Background
The Traffic Records Assessment is a technical assistance tool that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offer to state offices of highway safety to allow for review of the state's traffic records program. NHTSA and FHWA have co-published a Highway Safety Program Advisory for Traffic Records which establishes criteria to guide state development and use of its highway safety information resources. The Traffic Records Assessment is a process for giving the state a snapshot of its status relative to that Advisory.
This assessment report documents the state's traffic records activities as compared to the provisions in the Advisory, notes the state's traffic records strengths and accomplishments, and offers suggestions where improvements can be made.
Methodology
The assessment process follows a "peer" review team approach.Working with the NHTSA Regional Office, the FHWA Division Office, and the state's highway safety office, the NHTSA and FHWA select a team of individuals with demonstrated expertise in major highway safety program areas including: law enforcement, engineering, driver and vehicle services, injury surveillance systems, and general traffic records development, management, and use.Credentials of the assessment team are listed in the Team Credentials section of this report.The state officials who were interviewed during this assessment are listed in the List of Presenters section.Throughout the assessment, NHTSA and FHWA representatives served as observers and are also listed in the Acknowledgments section.
Recommendations
OHS conducted a Traffic Records Assessment in December 2000.The team's major recommendations based on that assessment process are outlined below:
MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS
TRCC Coordination
q Insure that the Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC) includes representation from all stakeholders including:Office of Highway Safety (OHS), Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), Delaware State Police (DSP), Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), Delaware Justice Information System (DELJIS), Office of Administrative Services (OAS), Courts, Delaware Chiefs of Police Association, Metropolitan Plannining Organizations (MPOs), and Community Traffic Safety Programs (CTSPs).
q Assign oversight responsibility to the TRCC to assure that the traffic records system will meet the needs of all state and local agencies with a highway safety responsibility.
Strategic Plan
q Assign the TRCC the responsibility for developing the Traffic Records System Strategic Plan.
q Insure that DMV participates fully in the TRCC.
New Crash System/Data Usage
q Develop a formal, written process for the specification, design, and development of the new automated crash report system.
q Revise and implement a new crash report form now, using the new crash data elements as established in 1997.This should be accomplished in advance of the design and development of the new automated crash system.
q Create a statewide Traffic Records System Resource Guide to give users and potential users the information they need on data sources and system capabilities.
q Promote use of simpler query tools and allow broader access to systems in DSP, DelDOT, and DELJIS.
q Extend training to all member agencies to provide a wide range of users with the information technology skills they need to manage transportation safety programs at the state and local levels.
DelDOT Systems Integration
q Insure that DelDOT personnel who play a key role in the use of crash information, take an active role in the development of the new crash system.
q
Establish
an enterprise-wide Geographic Information System (GIS) that will enhance
accuracy, accessibility, and integration of the various DelDOT files.
Events for the year 2001:
- RFP for Automated Crash Report issued.
- TRACS ( Traffic and Criminal Software) selected in mid-late 2001.
Events for the year 2002 to Present
TRCC Strategic Plan & System Requirements Definition
- RFP submitted early 2002 and contract signed by InfoGroup in Spring 2002.
- Conducted JAD sessions with TRCC and completed Strategic Plan and SRD in June 2003
- Pilot testing of TRACS from October 2003 to June 2005
- DSP using TRACS fulltime and Local Pd's now being trained.
Injury Surveillance Systems (ISS) Initiatives
q Fully implement the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) project to improve data linkage with highway safety databases.
q Continue implementation of the statewide Injury Surveillance System.
For a complete copy of the Traffic Records Assessment, it is available in PDF format below.
Traffic Records Assessment.pdf
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Implementation of CARE (Critical Analysis Reporting Environment).
provides Electronic Crash data Analysis capabilities to aid OHS with problem Identification and subsequent Resource Allocation Decisions.
TRCC Meetings
2-3 meetings a year to update mambers as to the progress made by variousdata Systems since last meeting.
FUTURE PLANS:
- RFP for Developmet and Implementation of the Statewide Integrated data Collection System.
- Continued Enhancement of EMS data Information network.
- Continued efforts to link Crash, Patient care reports and Hospital Discharge Data throughout CODES.
- Continued statewide Implementation of the automated crash Data reporting System.
- Complete and implement E Ticket
- Electronic submission of crash reports to DELDOT
- Finalise Location Tool.
- TR assessment scheduled for Novemebr 28- December 2 2005.
http://www.dot.state.ia.us/natmodel/tracs.htm
