Road accidents in a city in southern Brazil]

The study was conducted in the municipality of Londrina, a medium-sized city of southern Brazil. Analysis was performed in the characteristics of road accidents that had occurred during the first semester of 1996, resulting in 3,643 victims. Car or small truck collisions were the most common type of accident. The rate of motorcycle-related injuries (per 1,000 registered vehicles) was seven times higher than that resulting from cars or small trucks. Fatality rates were higher for motorcyclists who collided with stationary objects (29.4%) and pedestrians who were injured by lorries or buses (22.2%), in comparison with a mean fatality rate of 1.8%. This information may provide a basis for the implementation of public policies aiming at reducing accidents.     

Injury diagnosis quality of life among motorcyclists, victims of traffic accidents

This study characterizes motorcyclists living at Maringá-Paraná-Brazil, who were victims of traffic accidents and were attended in hospitals for trauma treatments. The injured have been characterized according to trauma severity, body regions affected and the body region with the most serious injury, besides identifying possible differences in the quality of life of the victims who developed traumatic brain injury. While the Injury Severity Score was used to evaluate trauma severity, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey was applied to assess the victims' quality of life. With respect to trauma severity, victims with mild injuries (73.14%) were predominant. Most victims (59.70%) were injured in the lower members of the body, followed by injuries in the upper ones (58.21%) and in the head (31.34%). Limbs were most affected when compared to other body regions. There was no difference in the quality of life of post-trauma victims with or without cranium-encephalic trauma.     

Helmet use among motorcyclists: observational study in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina

The objective of the study was to assess the use of helmets in a community where helmet use is mandatory but low as there is no police enforcement. A sample comprising 451 motorcyclists in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina, was studied in 2006. The following variables were studied: gender, type of motorcycle, weather conditions, time of the day, city area and type of road where motorcyclists traveled. Data were analyzed through a multiple logistic regression model. An overall 40% prevalence (95% CI: 35.5;44.5) of helmet use was found. Higher rates of helmet use were seen among women, and under unfavorable weather conditions, lower rates were found in the city outskirts, and variable use was seen according to the type of motorcycle. There is a need to improve law enforcement and to promote education of motorcyclists.     

Characteristics of the victims of traffic accidents in a city of the southern region of Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the magnitude of morbidity and mortality and describe some of the characteristics of road accident victims. METHODS: The study population was composed of 3,643 victims of road accidents which occurred in Londrina, PR (Brazil), during the first semester of 1996. There were included victims from accidents registered by the Military Police, those who died at the accident scenario or on their way to the hospital, those who received emergency care or were hospitalized through the Unified Care System. It was observed a period of 180 days for death verification. RESULTS: The mean incidence and mortality rates were 1,582.2 and 29. 0 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. These rates, however, have demonstrated great variability in relation to several characteristics (place of residence, gender, age and the victim's mode of transport). The majority of victims were motorcyclists, followed by cyclists and pedestrians who, altogether, accounted for 76.9% of the total, and 81.5% of those who died. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that road accidents constitute a major cause of morbidity and mortality and that specific preventive measures should be considered in order to reduce such accidents, especially those that involve the most vulnerable road passers.     

Characteristics of traffic accidents and victims treated through a pre-hospital service in a city in southern Brazil, 1997/2000

Traffic accidents and the resulting injury and trauma constitute an important social and public health problem. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of such accidents and the victims treated by the only pre-hospital service -- the Integrated Trauma and Emergency Aid Service (SIATE) -- in the city of Londrina, Paraná State, southern Brazil, from 1997 to 2000. All victims (14,474) registered in the SIATE database were studied. The majority (> 70.0%) were male and aged 10 to 39 years. Motorcyclists were the most frequent victims (> 40.0%), and accidents occurred most frequently in December, on weekends (especially Saturdays), and at night. These results are consistent with those of other studies showing the need to implement preventive measures targeting young males, especially motorcyclists.     

Blood alcohol concentration in fatal traffic accidents in the Federal District, Brazil

The objective of the study was to assess the association between high blood alcohol levels and fatal victims of traffic accidents in the Brazilian Federal District, in 2005. A total of 442 casualties (163 pedestrians, 84 victims of overturns, and 195 of collisions) were studied. Blood alcohol concentration was analyzed in 238 cases (53.7%). Most victims were young males, aged between 18 and 35 years. Blood alcohol levels higher than 0.6 g/L were detected in 44.2% of collision victims; 57.7% of victims of overturns and 32.5% of pedestrians. The difference in proportions between overturn victims with blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.6 g/L and those victims of other traffic accidents was statistically significant.     

Determinants and patterns of bicycle use and traffic accidents among bicycling workers in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Pelotas, southern Brazil, focusing on the determinants and patterns of bicycle use as a mode of commuting by workers. Accidents during commuting and use of safety equipment were also studied. The sample included 1,705 workers (> 15 years of age) living in the urban area of Pelotas and using various modes of transportation during commuting. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed using Poisson regression, taking the design effect into account. Prevalence of bicycle use was 17.2% (95%CI: 15.4%-19.0%). Male workers and those with low schooling and low income presented higher prevalence. Less than 1.0% of the bicycles featured the safety equipment required by the Brazilian Traffic Code, and 15.0% did not even have brakes. Nearly 6.0% of workers who commuted by bicycle had suffered accidents resulting in injuries during the previous 12 months. The authors conclude that bicycling workers are a priority for interventions aimed at reducing traffic accidents.     

Mortality rate in children caused by traffic accidents according to geographical regions - Brazil, 1997 - 2005

Fatal injuries in children caused by motor vehicle accidents represent a common situation in many countries worldwide. The present study addresses the mortality rate in children as vehicle passengers in Brazil, from 1997 to 2005. To evaluate mortality rates, the number of deaths was collected from the National Mortality Information System (SIM) and the population size was obtained using the Brazilian Bureau Census (IBGE) data available at DATASUS. Mortality rates were estimated in three-year periods and analyzed according to age groups (younger than 1 year old, 1-4 years old, 5-9 years old) and geographical regions using a 95% confidence interval. Overall results showed mortality rates of 5.68, 7.32 and 6.78 (per 1,000,000) for the 1997-1999, 2000-2002 and 2003-2005 periods, respectively for the whole country. Children younger than 1 year old had a mortality rate of 10.18 (per 1,000,000), which was higher than for the other age groups. For the period analyzed, the highest rates were observed for the Mid-West and South regions of Brazil, with rates of 13.88 and 11.47 (per 1,000,000), respectively. These results show the risk of fatal injury in children caused by motor vehicle accidents and may contribute to the establishment of educational campaigns aiming injury prevention in children as vehicle passengers.     

Helmet use among motorcyclists who died in crashes and economic cost savings associated with state motorcycle helmet laws--United States, 2008-2010

In 2010, the 4,502 motorcyclists (operators and passengers) killed in motorcycle crashes made up 14% of all road traffic deaths, yet motorcycles accounted for <1% of all vehicle miles traveled. Helmet use consistently has been shown to reduce motorcycle crash-related injuries and deaths, and the most effective strategy to increase helmet use is enactment of universal helmet laws. Universal helmet laws require all motorcyclists to wear helmets whenever they ride. To examine the association between states' motorcycle helmet laws and helmet use or nonuse among fatally injured motorcyclists, CDC analyzed 2008-2010 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal traffic crashes in the United States. Additionally, economic cost data from NHTSA were obtained to compare the costs saved as a result of helmet use, by type of state motorcycle helmet law. The findings indicated that, on average, 12% of fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing helmets in states with universal helmet laws, compared with 64% in partial helmet law states (laws that only required specific groups, usually young riders, to wear helmets) and 79% in states without a helmet law. Additionally, in 2010, economic costs saved from helmet use by society in states with a universal helmet law were, on average, $725 per registered motorcycle, nearly four times greater than in states without such a law ($198).     

An evaluation of the official swedish statistics on seriously injured in road traffic accidents.

Only 32 per cent of the category "seriously injured" in road traffic accidents were correctly registered as such in the official road traffic accident statistics. Furthermore, 25 percent were registered, though wrongly, as "slightly injured". Consequently almost one-half of the seriously injured were not registered at all, and they constituted a drop-out which contributes a bias to the statistics obtained. False registration is primarily associated with short-term hospitalization and absence of surgical operations during the hospital stay, i.e. slight injuries, and low age. The material analysed was comprised of 2689 individuals from hospital or road traffic accident statistics covering the Uppsala hospital region during 1966.     

3622例道路交通伤害住院患者的疗效和转归分析

目的找出影响道路交通伤害住院患者疗效和转归的因素，为提高治愈率、降低病死率及致残率提供基础资料和科学依据。方法收集某综合医院1999～2004年间所有道路交通伤害住院患者的病案资料，按国际疾病分类标准ICD-10进行诊断分类，对近2a部分患者进行随访核实病历资料，建立数据库，进行多项分类logistic回归统计分析。结果院前时间在10h以内、车祸发生在城市、村镇交通区为治愈的有利因素；面部损伤不是危险性因素；酒后驾车、锐器伤、钝器伤、曾受伤害均为治愈的不利因素；钝器伤、曾受伤害、曾于半年前受伤害均为住院死亡的危险性因素。结论道路交通伤害对城乡居民的健康危害大，是一个不容忽视的公共卫生问题，严重影响受伤者的生活质量，应通过制定相应的法规制度、开展健康教育等措施，防制伤害的发生。     

Socio-economic coasts of road traffic accidents in the Canary Islands, Spain, in 1997]

Objective: To evaluate the economic impact in terms of direct and indirect costs road traffic accidents in Canarias Islands (Spain) in 1997.Method: The cost-of-illness method was used. Direct and indirect costs were estimated using prevalence cost, i.e., the costs produced in 1997. Direct costs were divided into health services costs, insurance administration costs and the costs of material damage to the vehicles. Indirect costs were obtained through transformation of physical units into monetary units using the approach of human capital theory.Results: The total cost of road traffic accidents was 39,887.16 million pesetas, equivalent to 24,470 for each inhabitant of the Canary Islands and representing 1.3% of the GNP in this region. The total direct cost was 32,559.67 million pesetas, constituting 82% of the total, which was distributed according to the different concepts analyzed: health service costs: 2,407.40 million pesetas; insurance administration costs, 13,415.89 million pesetas and the costs of material damages to the vehicles: 16,736.38 million pesetas. The total indirect costs was 7,327.49 million pesetas, accounting for 18% of the total costs, which was distributed in premature mortality (6,884.88 million pesetas) and absenteeism from work (442.61 million pesetas).Conclusions: Although this study adopts a conservative approach by omitting costs associated with pain and suffering, permanent disability, and those of at-home care provided by the family, the hight socio-economic cost of road traffic accidents clearly indicates the need for the different administrations of the Canary Islands to collaborate in implementing preventive measures.