Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) Files

The system was used to facilitate the collection and dissemination of data on fatal motor vehicle traffic accidents. This series contains a census of data on all fatal traffic accidents in the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The files contain information about accidents involving a motor vehicle traveling on a traffic way customarily open to the public and resulting in the death of a person (occupant of a vehicle or non-motorist) within 30 days of the accident. The records characterize the accident, the vehicle(s) and the people involved. This data comprises government records extracted from the Archival Research Catalog (ARC).