Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is enhancing safety on roadways with the development of its new Crash Analysis and Reporting System (CARS) 2.0—an integrated suite of crash data and safety analysis tools designed and implemented by VHB. The user-friendly web-based platform gives DelDOT faster, more intuitive access to crash information so they can better identify risk, prioritize projects, and support the goals of Delaware’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).
The state’s SHSP is centered on reducing fatalities and serious injuries throughout Delaware via data-informed decisions, targeted emphasis areas, and multidisciplinary strategies, all while embracing the Safe System Approach.
Built by VHB in close collaboration with DelDOT, CARS 2.0 consolidates multiple crash and safety workflows into an integrated, role-based web application accessed via a secure authentication system. CARS 2.0 modules replace many manual, spreadsheet-based workflows with a structured, guided, and repeatable approach that supports network-wide screening, site-level investigation, statistical analysis, and countermeasure selection.
“Ultimately, our goal—and DelDOT’s goal—is to gather crash data efficiently so staff can analyze it and use the tools to identify risk areas and select countermeasures that will save lives,” said Brian Slattery, VHB Director of Software Engineering. “CARS 2.0 helps make that decision-making process more deliberate, data-informed, and focused on safety outcomes.”
- Crash Data Viewer (CDV) – Supports basic and advanced crash data queries with map-based visualization, including a filter for crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, or specific study areas.
- Interactive Data Dashboards – Preconfigured dashboards highlight crashes related to SHSP emphasis areas (such as intersections, speeding, distracted driving, motorcyclists, and pedestrians) and include a Fatal Crash Information dashboard to show crash trends statewide and by county.
- Standardized Crash Reports – One-click reports based on DelDOT’s “Standard Queries” provide consistent internal and external crash reporting, including alcohol-involved crashes and red-light running.
CARS 2.0 is more than a data viewer; it’s a suite of safety analysis tools to enhance decision-making. It will help DelDOT identify priority locations, diagnose crash contributing factors, and select appropriate countermeasures to target the underlying issues.
DelDOT has placed particular emphasis on safety analysis for vulnerable road users who face disproportionate risk when crashes occur. The person-level data capabilities in CARS 2.0 allow DelDOT staff to filter crashes by injury status and person role, select time periods and geographic areas for study, and quickly generate summaries of crashes that match those criteria.
The CARS 2.0 Safety Application helps DelDOT to advance its vision of safer roads for everyone who travels in Delaware. Learn more about how VHB technology teams are helping clients implement and deploy transportation technology solutions.
