august 2005

FMCSA ANALYSIS DIVISION Data Quality Program

August 2005

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

What Programs are Available to the States to Improve Data Quality?


Safety DataImprovement

Funding

MonthlyMonitoring

of StateData Quality

Analysis andImprovementof State PARs

On-siteState Data

Quality Reviews

DataQs

Training(FMCSA, State

& Local Officials)

Ongoing Evaluationof State-reported

Motor Carrier Crashand Inspection Data

UMTRIOff-site Analysisof State Crash

Data

FMCSAData Quality

Improvement Program

FMCSA Data Quality Programs


A web-based system for filing data quality concerns about Federal and State data

What is DataQs?


► It is:• A single location for data

challenge entry and response

• A web-based interface to view the status of data challenges and supporting documentation throughout the challenge process

• A support tool that assists FMCSA and States in generating responses

► It is not:• A change in either the

State or FMCSA data correction guidelines

• A system that allows or requires FMCSA to intervene in the State data correction process

What is DataQs?


►Allows users to submit data quality challenges related to motor carrier safety data

►Routes the challenges to the appropriate organization for resolution based on the type of challenge

What Does DataQs Do?


►Allows all involved in a data quality challenge to view the challenge and its status at any time

►Stores all information related to the challenge in a centralized place, e.g., correspondence between the user that submitted the challenge and the organization that is assigned the challenge, documentation pertaining to the challenge, status of the challenge, etc.

What Does DataQs Do?


►Motor Carriers and the General Public can use DataQs to submit data quality challenges related to motor carrier safety data

►FMCSA HQ, Field, and State personnel use DataQs to enter, respond to, track and manage the challenges

Who Can Use DataQs?


DataQs Activity


Total Challenges 6,913

Status as of 7/19/05

DataQs Challenge Type Breakdown




DataQs Inspection Challenge Type Breakdown




DataQs Crash Challenge Type Breakdown


What Makes For A Successful Challenge?

►Challenge Type• Crash Data – Assigned to Wrong Carrier, Duplicate, Not

Reportable• Inspection Data – Assigned to Wrong Carrier

►Providing Supporting Documents• Crash challenges improves from 65% to 86%• Inspection challenges: 68% to 80%• Carrier information: 35% to 87%

►State Differences• Some States have very high rate of corrective actions

taken compared to others (TN, WY, NM, FL, OH, VA)


What Makes For An Unsuccessful Challenge?

►Challenge Type• Crash – Not Preventable• Inspection – Violation Data (Citation vs. Conviction)• Inspection – Duplicate• Enforcement Data (Compliance Review, Safety Audits,

Enforcement Actions)

►State Differences• Some States have a lower rate of corrective actions

taken compared to others (KS, WA, KY, CT, SC, TX, WI, OH)



Funding

MonthlyMonitoring



On-siteState Data

Quality Reviews

DataQs


& Local Officials)




Data

FMCSAData Quality

Improvement Program



►A program that assists FMCSA and States to:

• Monitor State-reported CMV crash and inspection data quality on a monthly basis

• Measure progress towards the quarterly State data quality rating

• Analyze current and historical MCMIS and DataQs management reports

• Provide current status and historical trends of CMV data quality

What is Monthly Monitoring of State Data Quality?


► State-reported data• Fatal and Non-fatal Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash

data• Roadside Inspection data

► Resources• Motor Carrier Management Information System

(MCMIS) Crash and Inspection files • National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) Fatality

Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Crash files• MCMIS online reports• DataQs management reports

What Data & Resources are used for Monthly Monitoring?


►State Safety Data Quality (SSDQ) Analysis• Compares the quality of State-reported crash and

inspection data to FMCSA standards• Uses the same evaluation methodology used by

FMCSA to rate States’ data quality on a quarterly basis• Consists of 5 measures and one overriding indicator• Results in an overall rating of “Good”, “Fair”, or “Poor”

What Analysis is Conducted in the Monthly Monitoring Process?


►Review of MCMIS Online Reports• Review 8 reports

Crash & Inspection Timeliness, Accuracy, and Duplicate analysis

• Identify Discrepancies

►Review DataQs Management Reports• Indication of persistent problems in data collection or

correction• Review data challenges entered and open over

certain time limits

What Analysis is Conducted in the Monthly Monitoring Process?


►Two types of reports are prepared• Headquarters Progress Report• State Progress Report

►Reports will be posted online• Results available on A&I Online’s Data Quality Module (

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov)• Site will be protected with UAS password (UAS

password available through FMCSA Technical Support)

How are Monthly Monitoring Results Presented?


Results provide historic view of data quality

State Crash Timeliness Historical Report

How are Monthly Monitoring Results Presented?



Funding

MonthlyMonitoring



On-siteState Data

Quality Reviews

DataQs


& Local Officials)




Data

FMCSAData Quality

Improvement Program



What is the Program?

►Provides an analysis of the State’s data reporting to the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System Crash file

► Similar evaluation method for each State

► State police accident report (PAR) file is evaluated for all reportable crashes

► Comparison of the PAR case file to the MCMIS Crash file

UMTRI Analysis of State Crash Data


Outcomes

► Determine the nature and extent of underreporting

► Determine patterns of MCMIS Crash File under- or over-reporting

► Determine sources of under- or over-reporting

List of Reports► California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio

UMTRI Analysis of State Crash Data



Funding

MonthlyMonitoring



On-siteState Data

Quality Reviews

DataQs


& Local Officials)




Data

FMCSAData Quality

Improvement Program



►FMCSA team goes on-site to a State to:

• Review a State’s crash and roadside inspection collection and reporting processes

• Works with the States to identify areas for improving the data quality, and establishing methods for monitoring the effectiveness of the improvements.

What is the FMCSA State Data Quality Review Program?


1. State selection/coordination for the on-site review

2. Pre-analysis of State crash and inspection data3. An on-site visit consisting of

interviews/observations of State data collection process

4. Prepare recommendations/strategies for improving State’s data quality

5. Follow-up and monitoring effectiveness of improvements

What does the FMCSA State Data Quality Review Program Involve?


Data Quality Review Team – FMCSA HQ, Volpe Center staff, NISR, and Data Nexus

• Crash data expertise• Roadside inspection data expertise• System/Technical expertise• Collection and Process expertise

Who does the FMCSA State Data Quality Review Team Consist of?


►Conducted Pilot in State of NH – (June ‘05)► In FY ’06 - plan 1 State Data Quality Review

every quarter

What is the status of the FMCSA State Data Quality Review Program?



Funding

MonthlyMonitoring



On-siteState Data

Quality Reviews

DataQs


& Local Officials)




Data

FMCSAData Quality

Improvement Program



What is the Program?

►CVARS – Commercial Vehicle Analysis Reporting System (grants and cooperative agreements)

►Provides funding via grants and cooperative agreements to State agencies to help them improve the collection and reporting of eligible large truck and bus safety data

Safety Data Improvement Funding


Assistance

► Federal funding available up to 100%

► No State match is required

► Existing projects are also eligible for assistance

► Expert staff available to help States identify data

quality challenges and design workable solutions



Projects Initiated by States

► Hire staff to manage data quality improvement programs

► Revise outdated crash report forms

► Hire staff to code and enter crash data

► Train law enforcement officers in collecting crash data

► Develop software to transfer data from the State repository to SAFETYNET

► Purchase equipment to support data quality activities

► Purchase software for field data collection and data transfer



Grants and cooperative agreements awarded in 2002 - 2005

totaled nearly $ 18,400,000



Contact

►Betsy Benkowski• FMCSA• (202) 366-5387• [email protected]



Program

►Presents data quality analysis and reports

►Located in A&I Online website (http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov)

►Provides quarterly evaluations of State-reported data in MCMIS

►Provides an electronic means for filing concerns about Federal and State data

►Access tools for developing State strategic plans (e.g., CVSPs, State safety plan, etc.)

A&I Data Quality Module


A&I Data Quality Module