Extending the value of police crash reports for traffic safety research: collecting supplemental data via surveys of drivers.
BACKGROUND
Police crash reports have been used to advance motor vehicle safety research, though their value is limited by their focus on the crash event rather than outcomes of the crash.


OBJECTIVE
To develop and evaluate the effect of enhanced recruitment methods, including a monetary incentive, on response rates of drivers identified on police reports in a national MVC surveillance system.


METHODS
The National Automotive Sampling System-General Estimates System (NASS-GES) was used to identify passenger vehicle crashes between 1 July and 30 October 2012 involving drivers ≥16 years old with at least one child occupant ≤17 years old. We collected data from the driver via self-administered hardcopy or interviewer-administered telephone surveys. Within each survey mode, half the drivers were randomly assigned to receive a small monetary incentive. Response rates were calculated overall, and by mode of survey administration and incentive condition.


RESULTS
495 drivers were eligible, and 127 completed the survey, yielding an overall response rate of 25.7% (95% CI 21.8% to 29.5%). The response rate across the two modes was higher for those who received an incentive than for those who did not (35.6% vs 15.7%, p<0.01). The highest response rate (45.9%) was for drivers allocated to the telephone survey who received an incentive.


CONCLUSIONS
The NASS-GES provides a surveillance system from which cases of interest can be identified and supplemental data collected via surveys of drivers identified on police reports. We adapted procedures commonly used in public health surveillance systems, including monetary incentives and branded recruitment materials, to improve driver response rates.
The Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA The Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA The Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Dennis R
DR
Durbin
The Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Rachel K
RK
Myers
The Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA The Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Allison E
AE
Curry
The Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA The Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA The Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Mark R
MR
Zonfrillo
The Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA The Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kristy B
KB
Arbogast
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011996:Records; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult