Explanation of Codes for Traffic Accident Reports

Vehicle damage area

  1. Front
  2. Passenger side front
  3. Passenger side
  4. Passenger side rear
  5. Rear
  6. Driver side rear
  7. Driver side
  8. Driver side front

Damage scale

Rate from 1-5 with 1 being no visible damage and 5 being extensive damage.

Damage severity

Rate from 1-5 with 1 being little or no damage and 5 being inoperable and unrepairable.

Safety equipment (on vehicle)

  1. No lap belts, shoulder belts or airbag
  2. Lap belts only
  3. Lap & shoulder belts only
  4. Airbags, driver's side only
  5. Airbags, driver and passenger
  6. Airbags, front and side
  7. Other
  8. Unknown

Race

C-Caucasian

N-Negro

A-Asian

U-Unknown

Sex

M-Male

F-Female

Safety E. (Safety equipment used)

  1. None used
  2. Lap & shoulder belt used
  3. Shoulder belt only used
  4. Lap belt only used
  5. Airbag deployed
  6. Airbag not deployed
  7. Airbag not available
  8. Child safety seat used
  9. Child booster seat used
  10. Helmet used
  11. Restraint use unknown

Eject. (Ejected/Trapped)

  1. Not ejected or trapped
  2. Partially ejected
  3. Totally ejected
  4. Trapped; occupant removed without equipment
  5. Trapped; equipment used in extrication
  6. Unknown

Injury (Injury severity)

  1. Killed
  2. Disabled; cannot leave scene without assistance (broken bones, severe cuts, prolonged unconsciousness, etc.)
  3. Visible but not disabling (minor cuts, swelling, etc.)
  4. Possible but not visible (complaint of pain, etc.)
  5. None

Drivers and Vehicles (indicate all that may apply)

  • Physical defects prior to accident
  1. Apparently normal
  2. Eyesight impaired, wearing corrective lenses
  3. Eyesight impaired, not wearing corrective lenses
  4. Impairment to hands or arms
  5. Impairment to feet or legs
  6. Impairment to hands/arms and feet/legs
    • Vehicle defects prior to accident

  1. None
  2. Broken or inoperable headlights
  3. Broken or inoperable tail lights
  4. Broken or inoperable turn signals
  5. Cracked or damaged windshield
  6. Cracked or damage side or rear windows
  7. Insufficient tread on tires
  8. Malfunctioning brakes
  9. Malfunctioning steering
  10. Other
  11. Unknown
  • Contributing circumstances
  1. No improper driving
  2. Failed to yield right of way
  3. Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
  4. Exceeded authorized speed limit
  5. Driving too fast for conditions
  6. Made improper turn
  7. Wrong side or wrong way
  8. Followed too closely
  9. Failed to keep in proper lane or ran off road
  10. Operating vehicle in erratic, negligent, reckless, careless or aggressive manner
  11. Swerved due to wind, slippery surface, other object or pedestrian
  12. Over-correcting/over-steering
  13. Visibility obstructed
  14. Inattention
  15. Mobile phone distraction
  16. Distracted-other
  17. Fatigued/asleep
  18. Operating defective equipment
  19. Other improper action
  20. Unknown
  • Lighting condition
  1. Daylight
  2. Dawn
  3. Dusk
  4. Dark; lighted roadway
  5. Dark; roadway not lighted
  6. Dark; unknown roadway lighting
  7. Other
  8. Unknown
  • Weather
  1. Fair
  2. Cloudy
  3. Fog, smog, smoke
  4. Rain
  5. Sleet, hail, freezing rain/drizzle
  6. Snow
  7. Severe crosswinds
  8. Blowing sand, soil, dirt, snow
  9. Other
  10. Unknown
  • Road surface
  1. Concrete
  2. Asphalt
  3. Brick
  4. Gravel
  5. Dirt
  6. Other
  • Road defects
  1. None
  2. Oil, sand or gravel on surface
  3. Ruts, holes, bumps
  4. Construction zone
  5. Worn, polished surface
  6. Obstruction in road
  7. Traffic control device inoperative
  8. Shoulders (none, low, soft, high)
  • Traffic control
  1. None
  2. Traffic control signal
  3. Flashing traffic control signal
  4. School zone signal
  5. Stop sign
  6. Yield sign
  7. Warning sign
  8. Railroad crossing device
  9. Unknown
  • Type location
  1. Intersection (3-way)
  2. Intersection (4-way)
  3. Public street or highway
  4. Private driveway or parking lot
  • Trafficway character
  1. Straight and level
  2. Straight and on slope
  3. Straight and on hilltop
  4. Curved and level
  5. Curved and on slope
  6. Curved and on hilltop
  • Trafficway lanes
  1. One lane
  2. Two lanes
  3. Three lanes
  4. Four lanes
  5. Five lanes
  6. Six or more lanes
  • Vision obscured
  1. No obstruction
  2. Obstruction in one or more of the vehicles (passengers, cargo, etc.)
  3. Shrubs, trees
  4. Walls, buildings
  5. Roads intersect at odd angle
  6. Other vehicles
  • Class of trafficway
  1. Residential street
  2. Arterial street
  3. Highway, uncontrolled access
  4. Highway, controlled access
  • Type of trafficway
  1. Undivided two-way traffic
  2. Two-way traffic separated by yellow line
  3. Two-way traffic separated by median
  4. One way traffic
  5. One-way traffic with two or more lanes

Back to top