(a) Central accident records agency.--The department shall establish a central accident records agency which shall be the repository for all reportable traffic accidents as defined in this subchapter. The agency will have primary responsibility for the administration and supervision of storing, processing and providing the informational needs to all official agencies having responsibility in the highway transportation system. Accident reports submitted to the department under this subchapter shall be considered as records of the department, and the department may use any of the methods of storage permitted under the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 6109 (relating to photographic copies of business and public records) and may reproduce such documents in accordance with the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 6103 (relating to proof of official records). Such reports shall be admissible into evidence to support the department's case in an appeal of a department action that a licensee or registrant has taken under section 1377 (relating to judicial review) or 1550 (relating to judicial review), and the certification shall constitute prima facie proof of the facts and information contained in the accident report.

(b) Central accident analysis system.--The department shall provide accident data for analysis in selecting crash prevention programs and in evaluating the effectiveness of those programs implemented. The system shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly assessing traffic safety in Pennsylvania, including, but not limited to, an analysis of accident characteristics and mitigation strategies to reduce the potential for future accidents. In addition, the system shall be capable of providing:

(1) An annual statistical summary of motor vehicle accidents including multidimensional distribution for such factors as type, time and location of accident, road and weather conditions, type of traffic control, and condition and actions of operators and type and condition of the vehicles.

(2) Accident frequency histories for special highway locations.

(3) Comparative site-specific and route-specific accident data, including, but not limited to, accident rates, capsule summary listings, engineering extracts, location priority reports, cluster reports and maps depicting accident rates or frequencies for use in conducting in-depth accident investigations or safety studies.

(4) Evaluation of speed, driving under the influence, safety belts and other safety provisions of this title to aid the department and the General Assembly in determining when changes are desirable.

(5) Statistical analyses of the relationship between driver characteristics and behavior and accident involvement. These analyses shall include frequency and severity of crashes by drivers grouped by major violation category and frequency.

(6) An evaluation of legal or departmental actions as related to driver improvement and accident reduction.

(7) When information or data relating to motorcycles appears or is used in the system, the information and data shall be separated from information or data relating to other types of motorcycles.

(b.1) Certain reports.--The department shall biannually compile and make available to the public information submitted on an accident report concerning junior drivers with multiple passengers under 18 years of age and the use of seat belts by drivers and passengers under 18 years of age in motor vehicles involved in traffic accidents. The report shall note the number of passengers under 18 years of age if the driver involved in the accident was a junior driver and whether drivers and passengers under 18 years of age utilized a safety belt system. The data shall be included in a report submitted to the Transportation Committee of the Senate and the Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives.

(c) Highway safety statistics.--The department may compile such other statistics for such purposes as it might deem helpful in advancing highway safety.

(Dec. 28, 1994, P.L.1450, No.172, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. imd.; Oct. 25, 2011, P.L.334, No.81, eff. 60 days; May 25, 2016, P.L.248, No.34, eff. Jan. 1, 2018)

2016 Amendment. Act 34 added subsec. (b)(7).

2011 Amendment. Act 81 added subsec. (b.1).

1998 Amendment. Act 151 amended the section heading and subsec. (a).

1994 Amendment. Act 172 amended subsec. (b).