Instructions:

Document the motor vehicle’s actions just prior to the collision.

Definition:

The controlled maneuver for this motor vehicle prior to the beginning of the sequence of events.

Rationale:

This element is important for crash evaluation, particularly when combined with sequence of events.

Code Attribute Definition
1 Travelling Straight Ahead This attribute is used when this vehicle’s path of travel was straight ahead on the roadway without any attempted or intended changes. See attribute ‘other’ for vehicles traveling on off-roadway locations.
2 Slowing or Stopped Indicates the motor vehicle was stopped or slowing to a stop prior to the crash.
3 Turning Right A motor vehicle moving forward and turning right, maneuvering from one roadway to a different roadway or landway (e.g., from or to a driveway, parking lot or intersection).
4 Turning Left This attribute is used for vehicles moving forward and turning left, maneuvering from one roadway to a different roadway or landway (e.g., from or to a driveway, parking lot or intersection).
5 Changing Lanes A motor vehicle shifting from one traffic lane to another traffic lane while moving in the same direction.
6 Entering Traffic Lane A motor vehicle entering a travel lane by: merging from a ramp, entering after being stopped on the shoulder or roadside, leaving a curbside parking position, etc. This is not used for a vehicle that was turning from one land way to another.
7 Leaving Traffic Lane A motor vehicle moving outside the travel lane.
8 Making U-turn A motor vehicle that is turning around to reverse direction on the same trafficway.  It includes both legal and illegal U-turns.
9 Overtaking/Passing A motor vehicle that moves from behind a motor vehicle to in front of the same motor vehicle.
10 Backing A start from a parked or stopped position in the direction of the rear of the motor vehicle.
11 Parked A parked motor vehicle is a motor vehicle not in-transport and not presently engaged in highway road work, non-highway road work and commercial work, and is not in motion, not located on the roadway, and legally parked. In roadway lanes used for travel during some periods and for parking during other periods, a parked motor vehicle should be considered to be in-transport during periods when parking is forbidden. Any stopped motor vehicle where the entirety of the vehicle’s primary outline as defined by the four sides of the vehicle (e.g., tires, bumpers, fenders) and load, if any, is not within the roadway is parked.
97 Other This attribute is used when this vehicle’s maneuver is known but none of the specified attributes are applicable. An example would be a vehicle operating in an off-road location within the trafficway such as an ATV traveling along the roadside. If this is selected, an explanation in the narrative is recommended.
99 Unknown If this attribute is used, an explanation in the narrative is recommended.

FAQ

Is ‘entering traffic lane’ an appropriate value for a vehicle entering a roundabout?

Yes. The travel lane in a roundabout should be treated as a normal, one-way traffic lane.

Other Related Fields

First Harmful Event

Data Quality Audit Results

Report Type Acceptable Inconsistent Invalid Empty
Local Police (electronic) 592 95.9% 22 3.6% 1 0.2% 2 0.3%
Local Police (paper) 599 93.9% 30 4.7% 9 1.4%
State Police (electronic) 601 96.6% 13 2.1% 1 0.2% 7 1.1%
Total 1792 95.5% 65 3.5% 2 0.1% 18 1.0%