title: Accuracy of self-reported data for estimating crash severity.
abstract: Estimated traveling speed and speed limit have typically been used in population-based surveillance data to estimate crash severity. The accuracy of these measures in predicting crash severity is unknown. The Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS) surveillance system offers a unique opportunity to compare these measures, as well as a novel measure of crash severity, "self-report" delta-V, to the accepted measure of delta-V estimated during detailed crash-investigations in 118 crashes. This "self-report" delta-V was computed from the estimated traveling speeds and direction of impact obtained from telephone interviews with drivers. These "self-reported" delta-V estimates are modestly associated with crash-investigation delta-V estimates, with the degree of association a function of the direction of impact: when the respondent was struck from the rear, the degree of association is strong; frontal, side, and single-vehicle crashes yield weaker associations. This "self-reported" delta-V measure, however, is a substantial improvement over use of estimated traveling speed or speed limit only.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 612 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. melliott@cceb.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Kristy B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Arbogast
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Durbin
authors.forename: Flaura K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Winston
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans