Blog

Why is the New Uniform Crash Criteria Guideline Important?

Why is the New Uniform Crash Criteria Guideline Important?

Earlier this month the fourth edition of the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria Guideline were released. The Guideline is meant to help states determine what data to collect at the scene of the accident so that things such as distracted driving accidents are uniformly reported across the nation. While the Guideline is voluntary, it can be very useful in helping states determine how to direct safety campaigns.

One of the biggest changes in this year’s Guideline is the distracted driving data element. This element is more descriptive and includes more specific distracted driving behaviors than it has in the past. As a distracted driving injury attorney, I hope that the data collected under the new Guideline is effective in identifying the extent of the distracted driving problem and, more importantly, in helping states and others create concrete plans to curtail distracted driving and prevent future serious injuries and fatalities.