The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database contains data from 1978 through present. This database is updated annually and contains detailed information for crashes that result in at least one fatality. The system derives data through a cooperative agreement with each state to provide information in standard format on fatal crashes in the State. To be included in FARS, a crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a traffic way customarily open to the public, and result in the death of a person (either an occupant of a vehicle or a non-motorist) within 30 days of the crash. The FARS file contains descriptions of each fatal crash reported. Each case has more than 100 coded data elements that characterize the crash, the vehicles, and the people involved. All data elements are reported on four forms:

• Accident Form: Provides information such as the time and location of the crash, the first harmful event, whether it is a hit-and-run crash, whether a school bus was involved, and the number of vehicles and people involved.
• Vehicle and Driver Forms: Report data on each crash-involved vehicle and driver. Data include the vehicle type, initial and principle impact points, most harmful event, and drivers' license status.
• Person Form: Contains data on each person involved in the crash, including age, gender, role in the crash (driver, passenger, and non-motorist), injury severity, and restraint use.
• Alcohol Files: Contain driver and non-occupant blood alcohol content (BAC) estimates, as well as overall alcohol-related crash estimates, which are used to supplement the data files when no alcohol information would otherwise be available.

General safety statistics are provided on the FARS homepage. Specific queries may be conducted from the FARS website where the user identifies specific variables of interest to identify fatal crashes. The queries allow the user to specify the variables of interest as well as the year of analysis to obtain various crash statistics.