Assessing the Spatial and Temporal Differences in Midwestern Crashes Relative to National Data: Implications for Public Policy Decisions
Researcher(s)
Principal investigator: Linda Boyle (project list)
Project status
In progress
Start date: 04/01/07
End date: 03/31/08
Sponsor(s)/partner(s)
Sponsor(s):Midwest Transportation Consortium
University of Iowa
About the research
Research objective: --Understand crash differences among the Midwestern states
--Identify the temporal and spatial differences associated with crash types and severities
--Identify individual differences between Midwestern states and the US as a whole
Abstract
A great deal of research related to crashes has been done at the national level. However, data at the national level is typically done using GES (the General Estimate System) which encompasses a representative sample of the crashes in the US, not the full population. This is in contrast to state level data which is generally comprehensive. Although the national data is weighted to represent variations in each geographical location, there can still be discrepancies when the outcomes are to be generalized for a specific region. Differences in severe injuries based on road types at the state and national level have not yet been assessed. The goal of this research is to determine if temporal and spatial effects observed in the national data can be generalized to differences unique to Iowa and regions encompassed by the Midwest Transportation Consortium.
Potential Benefits of the Project
The findings of this study will help identify where gaps in the crash data exists and how we can make better policies tailored to the geographical differences unique to the Midwest. By isolating each of these effects, future policy decisions can be better aligned with the root cause of severe motor vehicle injuries.