Epidemiology of Traffic Accidents

Kim, Ik Dong; Ihin, Joo Choul; Lee, Soo Young; Kwon, Kwaeng Woo; Lee, Jin Sik

Abstract

A retrospective study has been made of 6,184 cases of motor vehicle accidents which had been reported to Automobile Insurance Co., Taegu Branch, from Jan. 1,1977 to Dec. 31, 1977. It was considered necessary to find out some preventive measures which could be obtained from the epidemiological facts. The aim of this study was not to indicate direct preventive measures but to focus attention on fields in which best results should be given by the preventive measures. Third decade of age group showed the highest numbers of accident casualties, as much as 23%, and preschool age group showed 5%. Casualties showed a maximum during the winter and a minimum during the summer. Highest occurrence of accidents was on Saturday, 17.5% and least on Friday, 11.1%. On working days, highest occurrence was during afternoon and early evening(4 p.m.-9 a.m.), coinciding with the time for home-bound traffic after work and another maximum at an hour before curfew. There was smaller increse in occurrence at the time when people go to work in the morning. Least accidents occurred in the early hours of the morning. In the 2,751 accidents involving dollision between motor vehicles, sustained injuries-i.e;48.1% of the total casualties in passengers in vehicles and a much higher incidence than in accidents involving pedestrians. In accidents involving pedestrians in the urban area, 51.2% of casualties sustained injuries on the street and 39% at pedestrians crossings. Accidents involving collision between motor vehicles and bicycles accounted for 17.2% of casualties in the urban area. Of these, 79.2% were injured in accidents on the street, and in general, the injuries were more serious than those sustained by passengers in cars.

Epidemiology of Traffic Accidents

Abstract

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