Methodology & Case Definition

The Recreational Vehicle Crash Database (RVCDb) is a research resource compiled through media reports and news outlets. It is operated and managed by the Recreational Vehicle and Child Passenger Safety (RV-CPS) Working Group
Working Group. Our goal is to document and analyze incidents involving recreational vehicles (RVs) to support safety research, policy development, and public awareness.

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Case Definition
All classes of recreational vehicles (RVs), including motorized units (motorhomes-Class A & C, camper vans-Class B) and non-motorized types (trailers, campers), involved in a crash documented through news reports, resulting in:  

• Injury to the RV driver, front passenger, or rear occupants  
• Fatality of any occupant  
• Non-injury incidents (used for baseline or trend analysis)

Case Exclusions

• Crashes where the primary cause was driver impairment due to DUI (Driving Under Influence)  
• Incidents involving RV theft or attempted theft

Data Collection Methodology

• Source: All cases are identified through a comprehensive review of online news reports, traffic incident reports, and media outlets.  
• Review Process: Our team performs systematic searches using targeted keywords and sources to identify relevant incidents.  
• Data Extraction: For each case, we gather detailed information on crash circumstances, passenger demographics, safety features, injuries, and fatalities.  
• Validation: Whenever possible, reports are cross-referenced to ensure accuracy and completeness.  
• Frequency: The database is regularly updated to incorporate new incidents and maintain data quality.

Limitations

• Data are reliant on publicly available news reports, which may underreport or omit certain incidents or details.  
• The completeness and accuracy of the data depend on the quality of media reporting.

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