Glossary

Term	Definition
Crash	An occurrence that originates or terminates on a traffic way, that involves at least one motor vehicle in transport and results in injury or death to any person, or damage to any property. This includes acts by the operators of motor vehicles that contribute to the cause of a crash regardless of physical contact and, for the purpose of ch. 344, WI Stats, (Safety Responsibility Program), includes intentional acts.
Crash rate	The number of crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Crash severity	Fatal - A motor vehicle traffic crash in which one or more persons were killed. Injury - A motor vehicle traffic crash involving one or more persons who were physically harmed or who complained of physical harm but were not killed. Property Damage - A motor vehicle traffic crash involving property damage and no injury or death.
Crash type	The category that best describes the general type of collision which was the first harmful event, that is, the first occurrence of injury or damage.
Crash type	The first occurrence of injury or property damage in a motor vehicle crash.
Deer crash	A crash involving a collision with a deer, whether it's dead or alive.
Distracted driving crash	A crash where at least one driver involved in the crash listed on the crash report as being distracted by talking, a passenger, eating, looking at something outside the vehicle, or other distraction.
Driver	The operator of a motor vehicle in transit. An occupant who is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle or, for an out-of-control motor vehicle, an occupant who was in control until control was lost. For an illegally parked vehicle, the driver would be the last person who drove the vehicle.
Ejected	Indicates the extent to which the person was ejected from the interior of the motor vehicle as a result of the crash. This excludes motorcycles. Not Ejected - Persons who are neither totally nor partially ejected from the vehicle. Totally Ejected - Occupant's body is entirely outside the vehicle but may be in contact with the vehicle. Includes occupants who are not initially in the seating compartment of the vehicle (e.g., pickup beds and persons riding on open tailgates). Attribute should not be used for any person with a seating position of Riding on Vehicle Exterior. Partially Ejected - Some part but not all of an occupant's body is, at some time during the crash sequence, outside the occupant compartment. Does not apply to occupants who are not initially in the seating compartment of the vehicle (e.g., pickup beds and persons riding on open tailgates), since any ejection for them is coded as Totally Ejected. Should not be used for any person with a seating position of Riding on Vehicle Exterior.
Fatality rate	The number of persons killed per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Highway class	The system type of the highway on which the crash occurred (County, State, U.S., Interstate, Local).
Impaired driving crash	At least one driver was suspected by law enforcement of alcohol or drug use or if a drug/alcohol-related citation was issued.
Injury severity	Fatal Injury (K Injury) - Any injury that results in death within 30 days after the motor vehicle crash in which the injury occurred. If the person did not die at the scene but died within 30 days of the motor vehicle crash in which the injury occurred, the injury classification should be changed from the attribute previously assigned to “Fatal”. Suspected Serious Injury (A Injury) - An injury other than fatal which results in one or more of the following: Severe laceration resulting in exposure of underlying tissues/muscle/organs or resulting in significant loss of blood, broken or distorted extremity (arm or leg), crush injuries, suspected skull, chest or abdominal injury other than bruises or minor lacerations, significant burns (second and third degree burns over 10% or more of body), unconsciousness when taken from the crash scene, or paralysis. Suspected Minor Injury (B Injury) - Any injury that is evident at the scene of the crash, other than fatal or serious injuries. Examples include lump on the head, abrasions, bruises, minor lacerations (cuts on the skin surface with minimal bleeding and no exposure of deeper tissue/muscle). Possible Injury (C Injury) - Any injury reported or claimed which is not a fatal, suspected serious or suspected minor injury. Examples include momentary loss of consciousness, claim of injury, limping, or complaint of pain or nausea. Possible injuries are those which are reported by the person or are indicated by his/her behavior, but no wounds or injuries are readily evident. No Apparent Injury (O Injury) - No reason to believe that the person received any bodily harm from the motor vehicle crash. There is no physical evidence of injury and the person does not report any change in normal function.
Intersection	An area that contains a crossing or connection of two or more roadways not classified as driveway access and within the prolongation of the lateral curb lines. If no curb exists, it is the area within the extension of the lateral boundary lines of the roadway of two joined traffic ways.
Manner of collision	The manner in which two motor vehicles in transport initially came together without regard to the direction of force. This data element refers only to crashes where the first harmful event involves a collision between two motor vehicles in transport.
Most harmful event	The event that produces the greatest injury or damage to the vehicle in the crash.
Motor vehicle	A self-propelled vehicle, including trailers and semitrailers designed for use with such vehicles. This does not include farm tractors, implements of husbandry, road machinery, well drillers or snowmobiles which are classified as equipment. (See UNIT TYPE.)
Motor vehicle in transport	A motor vehicle in operation or in motion (i.e. not parked).
Occupant	Any person who is in or upon a vehicle, including the driver, passenger, and persons riding on the outside of the vehicle.
Occupant Of Motor Vehicle Not In Transport	Persons in all seating positions in a motor vehicle that is legally parked.
Passenger	Any occupant of an in transport motor vehicle other than the driver.
Pedestrian (Non-Occupant)	Person who was once an occupant of a motor vehicle but left the vehicle.
Possible contributing circumstance (PCC)	The actions by the driver that may have contributed to the crash, based on the judgment of the law enforcement officer investigating the crash.
Reportable crash	Any crash with that results in an injury or fatality. Additionally, a reportable crash is a crash in which damage to an individual’s property totaling more than $1,000, or damage to government property (other than vehicles) totaling more than $200 where no person involved in the crash has suffered any bodily injury. There is no physical evidence of injury and the person does not report any change in normal function.
Role	A person's relation to a vehicle in a crash.
Speed-related crash	A crash where at least one driver involved in the crash received a citation for speeding, or was listed on the crash report as "exceeding speed limit" or “speed too fast/conditions.”
Trapped/Extricated	Indicates the person’s level of entrapment or extrication. “Trapped/Not Extricated” indicates the person died in the vehicle. Not Trapped - Person not trapped in the vehicle due to the crash. Does not require extrication. Trapped/Extricated - Person trapped in the vehicle as a result of the crash. Requires extrication by a mechanical means. Trapped/Not Extricated - Person was trapped in vehicle as a result of the crash but was not extricated. This field is used to indicate the victim died in the vehicle.
Unit type	A way of identifying a road vehicle or a pedestrian involved in a crash. There are seven categories of unit type: Automobile - Motor vehicle designed to carry a small number of people. Automobile is the presumptive type for Hit and Run units, to be used when Class D is used for such a unit and the actual Unit Type is unknown. Truck - Motor vehicle designed primarily for carrying property. Motorcycle - Motor vehicle with two or three wheels in contact with the ground (excluding trailers suitable for motorcycle hauling) and having a seat or a saddle for driver and passenger as well as possessing wheel rim diameters of 10 inches or more. A motorcycle may or may not have an enclosure over the driver and passenger. Bus - Motor vehicle consisting primarily of a transport device designed for carrying more than eight persons. Equipment - Any motorized device in which the primary purpose is not transporting people or property. For example, motor vehicles with the primary purpose of assisting labor such as farm equipment, or a fork lift. Bicycle - Any pedalcycle that is not motorized. Pedestrian - A person who is not an occupant of a motor vehicle in transport or a pedalcyclist. Includes a person who is adjacent to the motor vehicle regardless of their actions. Pedestrian includes persons in wheelchairs, persons on horseback, persons walking bicycles, and persons on skateboards or roller skates.
Vehicle miles	The estimated total number of annual miles traveled by motor vehicles on Wisconsin highways and roadways.
Vehicle type	Describes the vehicle body type.
Work zone-related crash	A crash that occurs in a construction, maintenance, or utility work zone or related to activity within a work zone whether or not workers were actually present at the time of the crash. Applies whether or not the crash occurred during working hours. It may also include those involving motor vehicles slowed or stopped because of the work zone, even if the first harmful event occurred before the first warning sign. An example work zone is shown below.