News Blog: Better crash data will sharpen Vision Zero focus

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By Matt Ferris-Smith, Portland Bureau of Transportation

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(Nov. 15, 2016) Crash data helps PBOT decide where and how to invest in safety. But the time between when a crash happens and when the data reach PBOT’s Vision Zero team for analysis can take months.

Reducing that delay, and gathering better data on the role of speed, impairment and distraction in crashes, are key pieces of Portland’s draft Vision Zero Action Plan.

The Action Plan includes three items that will make crash data faster and more thorough:

  • EA.5 Improve timeliness of deadly and serious crash data processing and reporting
  • EA.8 Secure increased funding and personnel to staff timely investigation of deadly crashes
  • EA.9 Improve data collection on speed, impairment, and distraction at serious and deadly crashes

Other data-related actions call on PBOT to crosscheck crash data with trauma data to identify discrepancies, and to review crash and equity data regularly with Portland Police.

“Vision Zero is data-driven and has a fast timeline, which means we need to have the best data possible, as quickly as possible, guiding our investments,” says Clay Veka, PBOT’s Vision Zero Project Manager.

Life of a crash: How data reaches PBOT

Before getting to PBOT, crash data touches as many as four groups: the public, the DMV, Portland Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation (see figure).

Most crash data is self-reported through the DMV. People in Oregon who are involved in a crash must submit a DMV form if that crash (1) involves a motor vehicle, and (2) results in an injury or at least $1,500 in property damage.

Portland Police gather data only on the most serious crashes—those that result in a crash victim traveling in an ambulance, or when emergency responders enter victims into the trauma system. Compared to self-reported crashes, police gather and report more detailed information on crashes, such as alcohol use. (View the DMV form that police use.)

Both self-reported and police data are sent to ODOT for analysis and reporting. ODOT makes the official crash record available to PBOT and the public about 10 months after the end of the year reported; for example, the agency released crash data for the year 2013 in November 2014.

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Vision Zero will reduce delay, fill gaps

Under Vision Zero, PBOT will work with the DMV, Portland Police and ODOT to accelerate the release of data on crashes that result in deaths or serious injuries.

Vision Zero also needs better data on the role of speed, impairment and distraction in serious crashes. Records from 2004 to 2013 show that speed and impairment were factors in 47 percent and 56 percent of Portland’s deadly crashes, respectively. Conversations with traffic investigators and safety experts suggest that the actual numbers are probably higher. Distracted driving is also likely underreported.

Excluded entirely are crashes not involving motor vehicles, which includes incidents in which people biking crash on rail tracks.

As Vision Zero moves forward, more timely and comprehensive crash data will help PBOT make smarter, quicker decisions about safety investments, says Veka, who adds that equity will also play a role.

“Our Task Force made it clear that they want a process that uses both crash data andequity data to guide our Vision Zero investments. We’ll be using both to prioritize improvements in the areas that need them most.”

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Portland is committed to ending traffic violence in our communities. Through the Vision Zero program, the City of Portland and our partners are working to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our streets by 2025.

The Vision Zero Task Force has overseen the creation of a draft Vision Zero Action Plan with specific steps to make streets safe. This draft plan will go to Portland's City Council for approval on Thursday, December 1, at 3 p.m.