Arizona’s first collision reporting center opens at Tucson police substation
The center at the department's midtown substation, at the northwest corner of
The center will also alleviate the need for drivers to wait by the side of the road to report a crash, potentially reducing secondary crashes and traffic delays for other drivers, according to TPD.
The center is a partnership with Canadian company,
The service is free to the public, department and state, with the company's funding coming from insurance companies, Sanderson said.
The company, which has been in business for more than 25 years, invested roughly
The collision reporting center will be open six days a week, with five employees on hand to take reports. ASSI anticipates taking reports from about 25 people a day, but if it's busier, the company will increase staffing to meet the demands, Sanderson said.
The collision reporting center won't be used to process crashes involving deaths, criminal activity, government vehicles, hazardous materials, hit-and-runs, bicyclists or pedestrians, according to police department.
"This is a very convenient thing for the city of
If a person is involved in a noninjury crash, they're asked to call 911 and report the incident so the operator can determine if the involved parties should go to the reporting center.
When a driver goes to the center, an ASSI employee will take a statement about the crash and photograph the vehicle. The reports, which police will review for consistency, can be forwarded directly to the driver's insurance company, along with the photographs, Sanderson said.
The driver will have an opportunity to call family members and his or her insurance company, and ASSI employees will provide information on what happens next.
Aside from freeing up police officers to respond to other calls, TPD will also benefit from the data provided to it through the crash reports, which will allow the department to monitor not only where crashes are happening, but also how and why.
"We'll be able to look at the data and allocate traffic resources as is necessary," Hall said.
At the end of the six-month pilot program, the department and company will decide how to expand the program or make it more efficient. It's unlikely the center will leave
This allows the consumer to expedite their insurance claim and prevent insurance fraud, according to Sanderson.
"I'm very optimistic this is a positive change that will be model for the rest of the country," Hall said.
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