While fatal crashes are available through the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and are readily available to the public, many states do not make their crash data easily accessible for the public and the research community. The public has an interest in knowing when and where crashes occur, partly so they can demand that authorities improve safety. Researchers have an interest in being able to download data and conduct analyses to better understand mechanisms that lead to crashes and assist decision makers in designing effective policies. The objective of our study is to document the state of crash data availability throughout the country and to determine the best practices for crash data management and procedures for making data open and easily accessible. We compiled a comprehensive nationwide dataset of open crash data characteristics for states and cities that provide such data. We follow this with structured interviews with crash data experts across the country to provide insights on both the challenges and solutions needed to make crash data accessible.

View Crash Data Database