Traffic Accident Reporting on Indian Reservations in Montana

Traffic Accident Reporting on Indian Reservations in Montana Presented By: Cordell Ringel In Cooperation With Western Transportation Institute Montana State University Bozeman, Montana 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman 1 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Montana “Big Sky Country” • • • • • • 4th largest State in Union 320 miles N – S x 540 miles E – W Population 883,000 Native American 56,000 7 Indian Reservations 22,000 miles of reservation roads -- IRR, State, Federal and county Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman 1/25/2009 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Introduction • • • • Purpose of Accident Reporting Study History of accident reporting on reservations Statistical information for reservations Problems associated with Tribes reporting accidents (Tribal perspective) • What is to be accomplished by this Study? • Views expressed by Tribal Leaders • Summary 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Purpose of Study • Fulfill Tribal request to improve accident reporting on reservations • Attempt to determine the cause of why accidents are not reported • Help Tribes better understand the current accident reporting process and potential benefits for Tribes • Listening to Tribal views and perspectives on collecting and reporting accidents into State database • Determining whether Tribes want to participate in the State accident reporting system 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman • Document the Tribal Government position • Explore other options for collecting and storing data, if Tribes elect not to report into the State database • Develop a system to improve current methods of accident reporting through the application of advanced technology. The system will utilize mobile computing systems to collect data at the accident scene and use Global Positioning System (GPS) units to identify the accident locations with greater precision than can be done manually. 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman History • Accidents on reservations are rarely reported into the Montana State database except when investigated by MHP • This distorts the true statistics on accidents reported and the problems facing reservations and Native American people • This has been a concern throughout Indian Country for a long time • Some efforts have been made to correct the problem, but without much success 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Statistical Information • No accidents reported from Tribal/BIA Police in past 5 years (except Flathead, P.L. 280 Tribe) • Comparison of accidents reported to MDT and Blackfeet Tribal EMS Report 19961998 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Accidents Reported on Reservations Reservation Blackfeet Crow 112 135 2000 0 0 0 2 73 83 2001 0 0 0 1 MHP BIA/Tribe Other MHP BIA/Tribe Other Flathead Fort Belknap Fort Peck N. Cheyenne Rocky Boy TOTAL 1/25/2009 451 16 47 27 3 791 22 0 0 0 0 22 103 1 54 0 0 160 360 6 42 17 2 583 25 0 0 0 0 25 128 1 16 0 0 146 Accident Reporting Study Blackfeet Reservation EMS Accident Data October 1, 1996 -- January 31, 1998 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study • Statistics from the “Montana Indian Fatality Crash Information” prepared by the Traffic Safety Bureau, Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), show that traffic fatalities among Native Americans in Montana are 2 1/2 times that of non-Native Americans. • The only reliable information reported is “fatalities”. • Traffic accidents investigated by Tribal/BIA Police on Reservations are seldom reported into the State database, therefore, the accident rate among Native Americans is significantly under reported. 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Montana Indian Fatality Crash Information Year Statewide Highway Fatalities 200 192 195 202 215 200 265 237 220 American Indian Fatalities 32 23 35 29 31 28 42 37 43 % American Indian Fatalities 16.0 12.0 17.9 14.4 14.4 14.0 15.8 15.6 19.5 % American Indian Population1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 n/a 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 237 230 35 37 14.8 16.1 6.2 6.2 Averages 1/25/2009 218 34 Accident Reporting Study 15.5% 6.2% Native American Fatalities Off and On the Reservation 45 40 35 FATALITIES 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 YEARS 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Off Reservation On Reservation Total Fatalities Indifference to High Accident Statistics • Federal Highway Administration • Montana State Department of Transportation • Tribes • Bureau of Indian Affairs • Other Federal Agencies • General Public 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Montana Seat Belt Usage -- All persons, Native Americans Year All Fatal Persons 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Seat Belt Usage Seat belt not used Unknown usage 39 129 1 23.2 25 128 4 16.3 40 118 2 25.3 47 123 2 27.6 50 135 3 27.0 52 118 6 30.6 68 156 11 30.4 65 130 10 33.3 42 147 6 22.2 % seat belt usage Indian Fatalities Seat Belt Usage Seat belt not used % seat belt usage 1/25/2009 1 28 3.4 0 20 0.0 6 24 20.0 1 21 4.5 3 28 9.6 4 24 14.4 2 37 5.1 3 30 9.1 2 37 5.1 Accident Reporting Study Why Is Reporting Accident Data From Reservations Important? • Reduce the needless lose of life, injury and property damage • Required to access safety funds/programs – BIA Indian Highway Safety Program – State / Federal Safety Funds – Other Safety Funds (NHTSA, FHWA, etc.) • Helps Tribes develop more effective safety programs and better community awareness 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Why Are Accidents Not Being Reported ? • What is the Root Cause ? – Political Issue • Not supported by the Tribes – Logistical Problem • Operational 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Political • Jurisdiction – Tribal rights vs. States rights • Sovereignty – State vs. Federal – Treaty Rights 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman • Vehicle licensing and/or registration • Insurance issues – Not required on reservations by some Tribes • Other – Non related Tribal/State issues • Confidentially 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Confidentially in Montana • All accident reports and supplemental information filed is considered confidential and not open to general public inspection. • Exceptions: – – – – The person named in the report or involved in the accident The representative of the person or the insurance carrier A party to a civil action arising from the accident The executor, the administrator, or the attorney representing a deceased of the accident – The department may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when the identity is not otherwise known or when the person denies being present at the accident. 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Logistical / Operational • Not a priority • Lack of commitment • Insufficient resources ($) • Lack of manpower • Need Training • Don’t understand procedures • No Incentive (don’t know how data is used) 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman What are the options of not reporting into the State database? • Do nothing option (status quo) • Encourage Tribes to collect accident data • Explore options for reporting into non-state database – BIA (central database) – Tribal (database) • Advantages/Disadvantages for this option 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Views Expressed by Tribal Leaders to date: • Collect data at the Tribal level, accept the State reporting procedures, and report into State database • Collect accident data, and report selective data to State • Collect accident data but not willing to report to State • Collect data and store in some other database, i.e. Tribal, BIA (Federal but not State) 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Tribal Action Required • Document the Tribes position on collecting accident data. • What accident data are they willing to share and with whom. • Need for Tribes to implement an effective accident reporting system. • How will the system be maintained? 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Summary • Accidents are not reported from Tribal/BIA law enforcement officers • Tribes realize importance of accident reporting • Tribes differ on reporting accidents into the State database • Tribes realize they may benefit from effective accident reporting • Explore alternative methods of collecting and reporting accident data into Tribal or BIA database 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman Questions 1/25/2009 Accident Reporting Study Western Transportation Institute Montana State University-Bozeman