Data Sources & Research Methodology
Every dataset the El Paso Driver Intelligence Center uses, how we analyze it, our sourcing hierarchy, our correction policy, and the rules that govern when we publish a number.
We publish statistics only when they are transcribed from a named public dataset with a stated reporting period, geography and extract date. Government sources are primary; industry sources are secondary and always labeled. When verified data is unavailable, the resource says 'data analysis pending' instead of showing an estimate. AI-generated or modeled numbers are never presented as facts.
This page documents policy and source register; it contains no statistics of its own.
Key findings
- Primary sources are government datasets; industry sources are secondary and labeled as such at the point of use.
- Every figure carries dataset, period, geography and extract date.
- A missing statistic is preferred over an estimated one – this is a hard editorial rule, not a guideline.
Every finding above is traceable to a dataset listed in Sources, or to transparent analysis described in Methodology.
Our sourcing hierarchy
- 1Texas state agencies with statutory data responsibility – TxDOT, TDI, DPS, TxDMV.
- 2Federal transportation and safety agencies – NHTSA, FHWA.
- 3Local government – City of El Paso and the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization.
- 4National Weather Service for climate and hazard information.
- 5Credible non-government/industry sources, used only where no government equivalent exists and always identified as secondary.
How we analyze data
- Geography is stated explicitly and never mixed – City of El Paso and El Paso County are distinct.
- Only complete calendar years are compared; partial periods are excluded from trend statements.
- Provisional data is labeled provisional, with its extract date.
- Counts are never used as risk rankings without an exposure denominator (traffic volume or registered vehicles).
- Severity categories follow the source agency's classification rather than our own re-grouping.
- Data and interpretation are presented in separate, labeled sections.
What we will not do
- Generate, estimate or infer a statistic that is not in a cited dataset.
- Publish crash, theft, premium or uninsured-rate figures without a named source and period.
- Rank roads or intersections as 'most dangerous' without exposure-normalized analysis.
- Convert correlation into causation, including claiming a crash statistic causes premium changes.
- Display media logos, awards or endorsements that have not been earned.
- Update a 'last updated' date without a substantive content or data review.
Corrections policy
If you find an error in any figure, source attribution or methodological statement on this site, contact us and we will verify it against the source dataset. Confirmed errors are corrected, and material corrections are noted on the affected resource with the correction date.
Full source register
The complete list of datasets used across the Intelligence Center is published below, with reporting period, geographic scope and access date for each.
How we analyze the data
- Where the information came from
- See the Sources register below – government datasets are primary.
- Geographic area analyzed
- El Paso County and the City of El Paso, Texas, with state and national comparisons only where definitions match.
- Time period used
- Complete reporting periods as published by the source agency, with extract dates recorded.
- How incidents were grouped
- Source-agency classifications are preserved; we do not create custom severity or offense categories.
- How rankings were calculated
- Exposure-normalized rates only. Raw counts are reported as counts.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-26
Known limitations
- Public datasets capture reported incidents only.
- Agency definitions differ and are not interchangeable.
- Recent-period data is provisional.
- No public dataset links crashes to insurance claim outcomes.
Sources
Government datasets are primary sources. Any non-government source is identified as secondary at the point of use.
- Texas Department of TransportationCrash Records Information System (CRIS) – Public Query & Crash Statistics
- Reporting period:
- Annual, statewide and by county/city
- Geographic scope:
- Texas, El Paso County and City of El Paso
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
Records are compiled from CR-3 peace-officer crash reports; recent periods remain provisional until reconciled.
View source - TxDOT El Paso DistrictDistrict project, construction and roadway information
- Reporting period:
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope:
- El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson counties
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- Texas Department of InsuranceAutomobile insurance consumer information and rate guides
- Reporting period:
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope:
- Texas
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- Texas Department of Public SafetyTexas Crime Reports / Uniform Crime Reporting program
- Reporting period:
- Annual
- Geographic scope:
- Texas jurisdictions including El Paso
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- Texas Department of Motor VehiclesRegistration, title and TexasSure financial-responsibility program information
- Reporting period:
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope:
- Texas
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationFatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
- Reporting period:
- Annual
- Geographic scope:
- United States, by county
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- Federal Highway AdministrationHighway Statistics Series
- Reporting period:
- Annual
- Geographic scope:
- United States and states
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- City of El PasoOpen data portal, Police Department and Streets & Maintenance publications
- Reporting period:
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope:
- City of El Paso
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- El Paso Metropolitan Planning OrganizationMetropolitan Transportation Plan and traffic/safety planning documents
- Reporting period:
- Multi-year
- Geographic scope:
- El Paso metropolitan planning area
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- National Weather Service – El Paso/Santa TeresaLocal climate records, dust storm and flash flood advisories
- Reporting period:
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope:
- Far West Texas and southern New Mexico
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionBorder Wait Times and port of entry information
- Reporting period:
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope:
- El Paso field office ports of entry
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- U.S. Department of StateMexico International Travel Information (driving and insurance guidance)
- Reporting period:
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope:
- Mexico
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
- National Insurance Crime BureauHot Spots / Hot Wheels vehicle theft reports
- Reporting period:
- Annual
- Geographic scope:
- United States metropolitan areas
- Accessed / updated:
- 2026-08
Secondary source: industry non-profit, not a government dataset. Identified as such wherever referenced.
View source
For media & researchers
We publish statistics only when they are transcribed from a named public dataset with a stated reporting period, geography and extract date. Government sources are primary; industry sources are secondary and always labeled. When verified data is unavailable, the resource says 'data analysis pending' instead of showing an estimate. AI-generated or modeled numbers are never presented as facts.
- Resource:
- Data Sources & Methodology
- Permanent link:
- https://elpasoinsuranceauthority.com/el-paso-driver-intelligence/data-sources-methodology
- Methodology:
- Published on this page under “How we analyze the data”.
- Last reviewed:
- 2026-08-26
Journalists, researchers and local organizations may cite this analysis with attribution to El Paso Auto Insurance Authority and a link to this page. For data questions, interviews or the underlying extract notes, see our research and media page.
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