Staying Current with Critical Data

The challenges of updating statistical information to keep your driver training program current is a daunting task. Fortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has updated its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) site at https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx  and created a user-friendly experience, including a map of incidents’ locations.

Whether you are searching for the number of pedestrian fatalities by age group, or number of fatal crashes by time of day, data are easy to locate.  As an example, say you wanted to get the latest data about traffic deaths in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts- simply select your jurisdiction from the drop-down menu:

Select a specific county:

View reports for specific geographic locations by selecting the red pushpins:

Additional state-specific search capabilities include (but are not limited to):

• Fatalities by County
• Persons Killed in Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Conditions
• Persons Killed in Construction/Maintenance Zones
• Fatal Crashes by:
  • Time of Day
  • Day of Week
  • Weather Condition
  • Light Condition
• Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes by:
  • Vehicle Type
  • Body Type
  • Rollover Occurrence
• Crash Rates by Month
• Year-to-Year Trends

Kudos to NHTSA for updating the system, and for being a powerful force in keeping motorists safe on today’s roadways, including by providing information on vehicle recalls, vehicle technology, risky driving, and much more.

With so much traffic safety data at your fingertips, supplementing your chosen driver education curriculum with local data has never been easier!