Evaluation of 2006 Georgia 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 factors that are associated with reporting rates for the state of Georgia. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Georgia Crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. Overall, it appears that Georgia is reporting 68.1 percent of crash involvements that should be reported to the MCMIS Crash file. Due to instructions in the Georgia Instruction Guide for filling out accident reports, it appears that buses and some other qualifying vehicles such as government and rental vehicles are not being reported. Based on vehicle type, the reporting rate is 73.6 percent for all trucks and 3.1 percent for buses. The reporting rate for tractor semi-trailers is 87.6 percent, but the estimated rate for single unit trucks is 55.4 percent. It also appears that many vehicles classified as panel trucks are not being reported even though GVWR for most of these vehicles exceeds 10,000 pounds. Missing data percentages in the MCMIS Crash File are low for certain variables, but are high for certain others as noted. No vehicles are recorded as hazmat placarded vehicles in the MCMIS Crash file, yet 46 vehicles are coded with hazmat release.