The CODES states demonstrated that data linkage helped to fulfill their expanded data needs without the additional expense and delay of new data collection. In addition to demonstrating the effectiveness of safety belts and motorcycle helmets on death, disability, and costs, the linked data were used to identify populations at risk for increased severity or high health care costs, the impact of different human behaviors on outcome, the safety needs at the community level, the allocation of resources for emergency medical services, the injury patterns by type of roadway and geographic location, the benefits of collaboration on data quality, and others. Crash, vehicle, and behavior characteristics linked with outcome information enable decision-makers to identify those prevention programs that will have the most impact on preventing or reducing the medical and financial costs associated with motor vehicle crashes.
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