Agency Wants Countywide Collision Data Collection System

By City News Service:

The Board of Supervisors Tuesday will consider a Riverside County Department of Transportation request to implement a countywide collision data collection system, accessible to area cities, to make roads throughout the region safer.

The Department of Transportation has been awarded a $340,000 federal grant, disbursed by the California Office of Traffic Safety, to upgrade its Geographic Information System.

If the board authorizes use of the grant funds, transportation officials intend to convert the system into a real-time data cruncher that identifies problem spots on roads and intersections anywhere in the county -- except for state highways, according to documents posted to the board’s policy agenda.

The agency’s current system focuses only on roads in unincorporated communities.

“The county requires traffic collision records on a timelier basis and, in addition, needs to have data accessible in a regional system,” officials wrote. “Having access to timely data provides the Department of Transportation the ability to make informed decisions in directing resources for traffic safety improvements. We can more effectively prioritize projects and budgets and be proactive in implementing safety improvements that will reduce fatalities, injuries and property damage.”

One of the key features of the upgraded Geographic Information System will be its availability to area municipalities, whose authorities would be able to coordinate with the county in making improvements to “shared” roads and intersections, documents stated.

Collision reports collected from law enforcement and other agencies would be uploaded and processed as quickly as they can be obtained, according to transportation officials.

They said the goal would be to have a report entered into the GIS no later than 60 days after it’s filed.

Along with proprietary software, the system would utilize Google Earth for mapping collision locations, according to documents.

The county would provide training for users from cities signed on to use the system.

Program development and implementation is expected to be completed by September.

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