GHSA releases new guidelines

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has announced that the 4th Edition of the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC) Guideline is now available. The MMUCC is a voluntary guideline that helps states determine what data to collect at the scene of a motor vehicle crash. It will help state agencies better capture data for emerging issues, such as distracted driving, secondary crashes and incidents on private property, as well as determine the level of serious injury from motor vehicle crashes. States will be able to use federal funding authorized under the new surface transportation MAP-21 legislation to make improvements in their crash and other related data systems and come into compliance with the new MMUCC Guideline.

The updating process from the 3rd Edition was co-managed by the GHSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which provided funding for the project. The new edition contains a revised distracted driving data element that is more descriptive and includes attributes such as: manually operating an electronic communications device; talking on hands-free electronic device; talking on hand-held electronic device; other activity; electronic device; passenger; other activity inside the vehicle, such as eating; and distractions outside the vehicle. There are also better definitions of serious injuries, by breaking injuries into five logical categories and providing clear definitions for each category. The five categories include: fatal, suspected serious injury, suspected minor injury, possible injury and no apparent injury.

Launching the new guidelines, Barbara Harsha, GHSA executive director, said, “Accurate data is essential for states in planning their highway safety programs and selecting countermeasures that will have the most impact in reducing crashes, serious injuries and fatalities. States use their crash data to better assess where to invest their limited resources. MMUCC provides the tool that helps states collect the most complete, accurate and informative crash data.”

NHTSA Administrator, David Strickland, concurred, “Increasing our understanding of the dangers that continue to threaten drivers and passengers traveling on our roadways is essential to improving traffic safety. The new guidelines will serve as a useful tool for gathering more accurate and consistent crash data on emerging safety issues, including distracted driving.”

3 July 2012