Who runs the project
Meru AI operates Evidence for Zero, formerly The Crash Data Project, as an independent civic research project. The project is not part of, funded by, or endorsed by the California Highway Patrol, the State of California, or another government agency.
A friendly critic
We support the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. We also believe that goal requires accessible records, shared definitions, visible data-quality measures, and honest discussion of where reporting systems fall short. We criticize systems and results with evidence while remaining open to partnership with the people doing the work.
What the project does
- Turns California Crash Reporting System records into understandable public views.
- Explains when road names were standardized, coordinates were missing, or a location was estimated from road names.
- Provides reusable maps, summaries, downloads, citations, and newsroom tools.
- Places important limits beside the findings they affect.
What the project cannot tell you
- It does not provide live traffic, emergency, legal, insurance, or medical advice.
- It cannot decide fault, prove why a crash happened, or determine legal responsibility.
- It does not identify crash victims or help others contact them.
- Raw crash counts do not account for how many people use a road or how many miles they travel. Researchers call that an exposure adjustment. This project does not replace that research or official agency reporting.
Funding and paid work
The team may accept consulting or sponsorship work involving responsible, combined data and public research. A client or sponsor cannot change source records or public findings. If a sponsor materially supports a publication, that relationship will be disclosed on the page.