North Carolina Crash Report Instruction Manual - NHTSA

_____________________________________________________________________________________________First Harmful EventFirst Harmful Event: the first injury or damage producing event which characterizes thecrash type and identifies the nature of the first harmful event, such as an explosion in thevehicle.Flashing Traffic Control Signal: traffic control signal that is flashing or a single lightflashing red or yellow.Flatbed: a single-unit truck, truck/trailer, or tractor/semi-trailer whose body is withoutsides or roof, with or without readily removable stakes which may be tied together withchains, slats, or panels. This includes trucks transporting containerized loads.Followed Too Closely: driver was positioned too near another vehicle or non-motorist topermit safe response to any change in movement or behavior of the other vehicle ornon-motorist.Full Access Control: authority to control access is exercised to give preference tothrough traffic by providing access connections with selected public roads only, byprohibiting crossings at grade or direct private driveway connections.Functional Classification: a classification system in which highways and streets aregrouped into classes, or systems, according to the character of the service they areintended to provide.Functional Damage: damage which is not disabling, but affects operation of the roadvehicle or its parts.Global Positioning System (GPS): exact geographic location indicated in terms oflatitude and longitude.Geographic Information System (GIS): system which associates information with specificgeographic locations, for example roadway characteristics by latitude/longitude.Grade: the rate of ascent or descent of a roadway, expressed as a percent; the changein roadway elevation per unit of horizontal length.Guardrail: a longitudinal barrier consisting of posts and rails or cables, whose primaryfunctions are to prevent penetration and to safely redirect an errant vehicle away from aroadside or median hazard.Harmful Event: an occurrence of injury or damage.Hazardous Materials: any substance or material which has been determined by the U.S.Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health,safety, and property when transported in commerce and which has been so designedunder regulations of the US DOT.Hazardous Materials Involvement (Cargo Only): indication that a motor vehicle had ahazardous materials placard as required by federal regulations.Highway Traffic Sign Post: a pole, post, or structure constructed to support a highwaysign intended to guide, regulate, or inform highway users._____________________________________________________________________________________________Page 76North Carolina DMV-349 Crash Report Instruction Manual