What are the benefits of data sharing?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) are Administrations that are represented on the U.S. DOT Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (TRCC). These Administrations collect data from the States for use in a variety of data-driven systems. The data collected is used extensively for:

• Basic Research;
• Identifying problem areas;
• Identifying program and rulemaking needs;
• Developing and evaluating programs, rules, and standards;
• Evaluating new technologies; and
• Allocating grants.

How do we use the data?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Research and Innovative Technology Administration, and the entire highway traffic safety community use the data to quantify emerging traffic safety issues and problems, determine priorities, support decision-making and target resources where they will be most effective.

Data allows for complete understanding of:

• The nature, causes, and injury outcomes of crashes; and
  
  
• The strategies and interventions that will reduce crashes and their consequences.