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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Working Group to Consider New Post-Accident Crash Data Elements for Tow-Away Crashes (FAST Act Section 5306)

Goal:

To convene a working group to review the data elements of post-accident reports for reportable tow-away accidents involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and to report to the Secretary of Transportation its findings and any recommendations, including best practices for State post-accident reports to achieve the recommended data elements.

Background:

Section 5306 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, 2015 (FAST Act) required the Secretary of Transportation to convene a working group to review the data elements of post-accident reports for reportable tow-away crashes involving CMVs.

Summary:

The working group considered requiring additional data elements in post-accident reports for reportable tow-away crashes involving CMVs, including:
  1. The primary cause of the accident, if the primary cause can be determined; and
  2. The physical characteristics of the CMV and any other vehicle involved in the accident, including:
    • The vehicle configuration;
    • The gross vehicle weight, if the weight can be readily determined;
    • The number of axles; and
    • The distance between axles, if the distance can be readily determined.

Outcomes:

Working group report containing findings and recommendations; recommendations to the States for new data elements to collect following reportable CMV accidents.
 

Milestones

Complete
April 2016: Convene working group (convened via teleconference on March 30) ☑
April 26, 2016: In-person meeting to discuss Task 1 findings. ☑
July 2016: In-person meeting to discuss Task 2 findings. ☑
December 6-7, 2016: Public meeting of the Post-Accident Review Advisory Committee to review State police accident reports (PARs) and consider PAR best practices/requiring additional data elements on PARs ☑
December 15, 2016: Advisory Committee submitted report with recommendations and ideas relating to PAR best practices ☑

Project Manager:

For more information, contact Scott Valentine of the Analysis Division at (202) 366-4869 or scott.valentine@dot.gov.

Contractor:

Work done in-house; working group employed in early stages.
Last updated: Thursday, May 30, 2024