MARYLAND TAKES A NEW LOOK AT HIGHWAY ACCIDENT REPORTING

THE COUNTY THAT INCLUDES ANNAPOLIS, THE CAPITAL OF MARYLAND, HAS INITIATED A PILOT TEST TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF EMPLOYING SUCH TECHNIQUES AS VOICE RECORDING, OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION, AND MICROFILM TO OBTAIN USEFUL AND STANDARDIZED ACCIDENT DATA. THE FIRST STEP LEADING TOWARD THE TEST WAS TO DEVISE A METHOD OF USING THE COMPUTER TO STORE, UPDATE, AND RETRIEVE A LOCATION CODE FOR EACH 50-FOOT SECTION OF EVERY HIGHWAY IN THE STATE. THE SECOND STEP WAS TO COMPILE A LIST OF DATA ELEMENTS THAT WOULD ENSURE UNIFORMITY OF REPORTING AND COULD ALSO BE USED AS A REPORTING OUTLINE FOR THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER. IN THE PILOT TEST THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER, AFTER TENDING TO THE ACCIDENT, COMPLETED THE UNIFORM REPORT OUTLINE, USED THIS OUTLINE FOR DICTATING HIS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON MAGNETIC TAPE, AND, AT THE END OF HIS SHIFT, TURNED OVER THE REPORT AND CASSETTE. PROCESSING OF THESE MATERIALS FOR COMPUTER PROCESSING AND RETRIEVAL IS DESCRIBED.

• Authors:
  • Shirk, B I
• Publication Date: 1972-8

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 28-9
• Serial:
  • POLICE CHIEF
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue Number: 8

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash analysis; Crash reports; Information processing; Information systems; Recording instruments; Speech; Traffic crashes; Voice communication
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221817
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1973 12:00AM