Evaluation of 2008 Florida crash data reported to the MCMIS Crash File

Abstract

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Earlier studies have shown that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the State of Florida. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Florida Crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. Overall, it appears that Florida is reporting 28.0 percent of crash involvements that should be reported to the MCMIS Crash file. There is some disagreement in vehicle type as determined by VIN decoding and the entry recorded on the police accident report. The reporting rate for truck tractors is 46.7 percent, while the reporting rates for single unit trucks are 6.0, 16.2, and 24.2 percent for trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings in pounds of 10,000-19,5000; 19,501-26,000; and greater than 26,000, respectively. The reporting rate for buses is 5.3 percent. Fatal crashes are reported at about 86.0 percent, but injured/transported and towed/disabled crashes are reported at about 30.9 and 22.7 percent, respectively. The Highway Patrol has a reporting rate of 85.2 percent, while the reporting rate for police departments is 57.6 percent and for sheriff‘s offices is 60.6 percent. Missing data rates are low for most variables. There are some inconsistencies between vehicle configuration as coded in the Florida Crash file and the MCMIS file.