Data Availability

While this report presents a wide spectrum of information in more than 100 tables and figures, it contains only a fraction of the data available from FARS and GES. Additional data from FARS (1975 through 2003) or from GES (1988 through 2003) are available in four ways:

• Modest requests for specific data will be answered by NCSA at no charge. Response usually requires about two weeks, depending on the nature and complexity of the data requested.
• Compact disks can be purchased in one of several formats amenable to analysis. This will enable you to process the data using your own computer system. Information on acquiring the compact disks is available by contacting the Volpe Center at the following address:

                Attn: Marjorie Saccoccio
                USDOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
                DTS-23
                55 Broadway
                Cambridge, MA 02142
                617-494-2640
                617-494-3770 (FAX)

• FARS and GES data can be obtained by downloading any of the published files from the Internet, at ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/FARS or ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/GES. The files are available in SAS, sequential ASCII, and (for FARS only, not GES) DBF file formats. This will enable you to process the data using your own computer system.
• FARS data can also be accessed on the Web at www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov. This Web site provides instant access to the 1994 through 2003 FARS data via the Create-a-Query, Create-a-Map, and Reports features. The Create-a-Query feature will enable you to process the data using our interactive user interface. The Create-a-Map feature will enable you to create state-by-state and county-by-county map displays from an inventory of report selections. The Reports feature is an inventory of the fatality statistical reports found in this publication. These are national reports for current and past years that may be customized by selection of state; and for state reports, county tabulation may be selected.

Requests for more information from FARS or GES should be directed to:

                National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
                National Center for Statistics and Analysis
                NPO-121
                400 Seventh Street, SW
                Washington, DC  20590
                202-366-4198 or 800-934-8517
                202-366-7078 (FAX)

Additional information on all NHTSA’s data files, including FARS and GES, can be found on the NCSA Web site: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa. Fact sheets, recent NCSA research notes, and abstracts of technical reports can be downloaded in portable document format (PDF). Comments and suggestions about the NCSA Web site can be e-mailed to the following address: ncsaweb@nhtsa.dot.gov.

Auto Safety Hotline

To report a safety-related problem or to inquire about motor vehicle safety information, call the Auto Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.