Community-based traffic safety programs have long used police records, including citation and crash reports, that contain information on the time and location of the crash, the age of those involved in the incident, the road conditions, and whether alcohol was involved. These data have been invaluable in helping communities understand their motor vehicle crash problem. But other types of data can be used with these reports to produce a more detailed description of an injury problem and design a focused strategy to prevent those injuries. Such types of data include emergency medical services data, emergency department and hospital discharge data, health department data, and insurance data, all of which contain information on the types and severity of injuries and the charges associated with treating those injuries.

This issue's feature, "Using Data to Combat DWI," demonstrates the power of arrest and adjudication records to provide valuable information on crashes in which alcohol is involved, and the ability of the criminal justice system to respond in ways that effectively reduce the rate of driving while intoxicated, as well as the crashes and injuries resulting from such behavior. Observational studies and surveys can provide information concerning human behavior that endangers (or protects) vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Information from insurance companies and health care providers can (1) help a community measure the economic cost of traffic injuries, and (2) garner support for a community's investment in safety.

Data can be intimidating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has produced materials to help those who want to use multiple sources of local data to enhance their Safe Communities efforts. Information on these materials, together with other resources on using data, can be found on pages 3 and 6.