What is the condition for a peace officer to submit a crash report to DSDOT?

A peace officer is required to submit a crash report to the DSDOT when one person suffers an injury or death as a result of the crash. This requirement emphasizes the importance of documenting incidents that have resulted in bodily harm, as they are generally considered more serious and warrant formal investigation and reporting. By ensuring that these circumstances are reported, it allows for a comprehensive understanding of traffic safety issues and facilitates the necessary responses from transportation and law enforcement agencies.

Reports for less severe incidents, such as property damage under a certain threshold, or minor fender benders without injury, do not necessitate submission, as the focus of the reporting requirement is primarily on incidents that could indicate a pattern of risk to public safety. This approach not only helps in resource allocation for traffic safety initiatives but also aids in legal and insurance processes following serious accidents.