Highway Safety Records

Collection

A Vehicle Collision Report (VCR) is filled out for every collision that involves a motor vehicle, occurs on public property and results in more than $1500 ($750 before January 1, 2006) property damage for any one person involved in the crash.  All law enforcement agencies in Idaho (City Police, County Sheriffs, and the Idaho State Police) are required by Idaho Code 49-1306 to send VCR forms to the Office of Highway Safety (OHS).  Officers complete the VCRs either on a paper form or on the software program called Idaho’s Mobile Program for Accident CollecTion (IMPACT).   

The new version of of our electronic form, IMPACT 2K, has been implemented in 110 agencies .  The new software allows local agencies to store the crash information locally and transmit the data to the OHS electronically.  In 2006, 96% of the crash reports were transmitted electronically.  This allows easy access to the data for each local agency, eliminates the need for local agencies to keep paper copies on hand, eliminates the need to print off a copy of the report and mail it to the OHS, and eliminates the need to re-key the data into our database. 

Coding and Data Entry

Over 28,000 reportable collisions were entered into the database in 2004.  Each report must be coded, checked for completeness and accuracy, and entered into the collision database.  Each full-time technician is responsible for approximately 5,200 VCRs per year.  Each VCR includes 121 data fields encompassing 3 aspects of the collision, environment (including location and road conditions), vehicle, and person information.  The accuracy of the data is dependent upon the correct interpretation by the law enforcement officer, as well as the technician in the OHS.

The OHS is currently providing free training to law enforcement agencies in advanced collision reporting to improve the quality and accuracy of the information collected.  For more information about the training, contact Carroll Dodd at Carroll.Dodd@itd.idaho.gov.

Archiving

The OHS archives VCRs using microfilm.  The OHS has microfilmed VCRs back to 1971.  The film is stored in both the OHS and the General Service’s microfilm vault for protection.

Access to Collision Records/Database

Collision records are considered public information, and as such, are available to the general public.  In accordance with Idaho Code, the OHS charges for each copy of a collision report, if applicable.  The charge is  $4.00  plus handling.  Requests for collision reports may be made through the OHS.  Statistical information not contained in the Annual Collision Reports can also be obtained through the OHS, with the same charges applicable.

Local and State agencies are able to analyze the crash data using WebCARS, a web based analysis system developed by the OHS.  For more information on IMPACT 2K or WebCARS, contact Margaret Goertz at (208) 334-8104 or Margaret.Goertz@itd.idaho.gov

Please send comments, questions, and suggestions to ohsweb@itd.idaho.gov