Evaluation of 2007 Texas 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. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the state of Texas. Evaluating Texas data in the MCMIS Crash file presented unique problems. Gaps in the PAR data made difficult to identify vehicles that meet the MCMIS vehicle type criteria with confidence or to cleanly identify crashes meeting the severity threshold. Alternative methods were developed to evaluate reporting indirectly. The result of each method was consistent with the conclusion that Texas reporting is substantially complete. No evidence was found that would tend to show underreporting or overreporting. Missing data rates are low for most variables, and that data reported are consistent. However, it is emphasized that gaps in the Texas data make it impossible to directly measure crash reporting rates.