There are more than 10.6 million police reported motor vehicle traffic crashes each year in the United States resulting in death, injury and property damage at a substantial economic loss to society. It is the mission of NHTSA to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, deaths and injuries, and consequently the associated economic loss to society resulting from motor vehicle crashes. NASS data are critical to understanding real-world motor vehicle crash performance and the injury risk as a function of crash severity. Data are obtained for comparison of these risks from assessment of the damage to crash involved motor vehicles, assessment of the performance of motor vehicle occupant safety devices, and documentation of injuries sustained by crash victims.
The National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) has been in operation at various levels of development, implementation and operation since 1978. The NASS program was re-evaluated in the mid-1980's. This re-evaluation resulted in changes which were implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in January 1988. NASS now has two major operating components:
The General Estimates System (GES) which collects data on an annual sample
of approximately 55,000 police traffic crash reports; and
The Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) which collects additional
detailed information on an annual sample of approximately 5,000 police reported
traffic crashes involving a towed passenger car, van or truck that is less than
or equal to 10,000 pounds GVW
Read more from the NHTSA article National Automotive Sampling System (NASS)