Evaluation of 2005 Indiana 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 showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the state of Indiana. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Indiana Crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. Overall, it appears that Indiana is reporting 80.5 percent of crash involvements that should be reported to the MCMIS Crash file. Based on crash severity, the reporting rate is 90.3 percent for fatal crashes, 81.9 percent for injured/transported crashes, and 79.6 percent for towed crashes. It appears that at least two different crash report forms are in use in Indiana, resulting in a reported injury severity distribution that differs considerably from those reported in other states. The reporting rate for trucks is 81.0 percent, and the rate for buses is 73.4 percent. The reporting rate for the State Police is 87.6 percent, while the rate for the Indianapolis Police Department is 66.0 percent. It appears that 97 of the 7,193 reportable cases involved explosion or fire and 11 of these were not reported. Of the 97 vehicles, at least 46 involved no injury (7 vehicles unknown). Missing data rates are low for most variables, except as noted. Some inconsistencies between data reported to the MCMIS file and data recorded in the Indiana file were also noted.