2011 WI Reportable Crash Calendar   zoom.it* or http://zoom.it/nfUz **

I love this infographic design! ... This design is a great example of how visualizing the data allows the readers to see patterns in the data and much more easily understand the stories behind the data. The color coding makes it easy to compare the data subsets, and the consistent layout to match a traditional paper calendar is very easy to follow. There are so many findings you can quickly see in the big dataset. Some are obvious, but many are surprising ...

When I teach courses on the art of using data for decision-making, I tell people to look at several different views of the data and try to build a consistent story from those multiple perspectives. With the Crash Calendar, Wisconsin has a data summary that is instantly understandable while at the same time rewarding a longer, more detailed review.

BOTS staff have found the crash calendar to be very beneficial as a visual tool when discussing the crash statistics for 2011. The pictorial representation of the data provides a depth of understanding beyond just talking about the numbers. We have been using this tool at various staff meetings and it has been the foundation for very meaningful discussion about highway safety in Wisconsin and what law enforcement and other highway safety partners can do to enhance overall safety. Being able to see the data illustrated in various degrees like what you have portrayed is very beneficial. It allows a person to focus in on a  particular area that is of specific interest. It also assists in planning and reaffirms assignment of resources based on what the data shows.  Thanks again for this very useful tool. 

Some specific trends that have been noted include: alcohol crashes tend to occur on the weekends, deer crashes are a problem in November, and poor weather tends to correlate with all types of crashes except fatalities.

GHSA State Highway Safety Showcase

about the Crash Calendar

The Crash Calendar data visualization uses a 12-month calendar format, with months stacked on top of one another, and darker colors indicate days when more crashes occurred. The prototype represents the number of reportable, property damage, injury, and fatal crashes by day. 

The Crash Clock divides the 24-hour day into four time-periods. In addition, the data illustrate selected crash flags, including: alcohol, bicycle, deer, inclement roads, motorcycle, pedestrian, rural single-vehicle, speed-related, work zone, and young driver.

It provides a platform for further analysis since other factors can be added, if the data are collected or can be derived, from Wisconsin’s MV4000 crash reports. The TIC and the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project, at the UW-Madison Law School, anticipate collaborating on a more detailed analysis of alcohol-related crashes. The current version of the Crash Calendar uses preliminary 2011 crash data. A 2012 Crash Calendar and county-specific Crash Calendars (2011 and 2012) are under development.