There are three steps involved:
I) Collection of Accident data
II) Accident Report
III) Accident Records
I) Collection of Accident data:
a) General: Date, Time, Persons involved in the accident, classification of accidents like fatal, serious, minor etc.
b) Location: Description & details of location of accidents.
c) Details of vehicles involved: Registration number make, description of vehicles, loading details, vehicular defects.
d) Nature of accident: Condition of vehicles involved, details of collision & pedestrians or objects involved, damages, injuries, causality etc.
e) Road & Traffic conditions: Details of Road geometrics, whether the road is straight or curved, surface characteristics such as dry, wet, slippery, Traffic condition - Type of Traffic, Traffic density etc.
f) Primary Causes of accidents: Various possible causes and the primary causes of the accident.
g) Accident Costs: Total cost of the Accident computed in terms of rupees of the various involvements like property damage, personal Injuries & causalities.
II) Accident Report: The accident should be reported to police authority who would take legal actions especially in more serious accidents involving injuries, causalities, or severe damage to property. Accident report of the individuals involved may be separately taken. The accident data should be collected & Accident report is prepared with all facts which might be useful in subsequent analysis, claims for compensation etc.
III) Accident Records: The Accidents Records are maintained giving all particulars of the Accidents, Location etc. The records may be maintained by means of location files, spot maps, collision diagrams & condition diagrams. Condition diagram is a drawing to scale showing all important physical conditions of an accident location to be studied. Important features generally to be shown with dimensions are Roadway limits. Curves, Kerbs lines, Bridges, Culverts, Trees, Obstruction to Vision, Property lines, Signs, Signals. Collision diagram are the diagrams showing the Approximate path of vehicles & pedestrians involved in the Accidents. Collision diagrams are most useful to compare the Accident pattern before & after the Remedial Measures have been taken.