Scientific Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic injuries are a major but neglected global public health problem, requiring concerted efforts for effective and sustainable prevention. Of all the systems that people have to deal with on a daily basis, road transport is the most complex and the most dangerous. Worldwide, the number of people killed in road traffic crashes each year is estimated at almost 1.2 million, while the number injured could be as high as 50 million – the combined population of five of the world’s large cities. The tragedy behind these figures regularly attracts less media attention than other, less frequent but more unusual types of tragedy. What is worse, without increased efforts and new initiatives, the total number of road traffic deaths worldwide and injuries is forecast to rise by about 65% between 2000 and 2020, and in low income and middle-income countries deaths are expected to increase by as much as 80%. The majority of such deaths are currently among “vulnerable road users– pedestrians, pedal cyclists and motorcyclists”. In high-income countries, deaths among car occupants continue to be predominant, but the risks per capita that vulnerable road users face are high. AIM: To analyze the selected scientific profiles of Road Traffic Accidents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study place – Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai Medical College, in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Study Period - July 2004 to June 2005. Inclusion Criteria: All the patients attended GRH Madurai with an history of RTAs. Exclusion Criteria: Injuries other than RTAs. For the purpose of the study, good definition was sought and World Health Organization definition for road traffic accidents was taken. RESULTS: Total number of Male victims of road traffic accidents were 1910 constituting 72% of the victms. Total number of Female victims of road traffic accidents were 491 constituting 28% of the victims. In our study we grouped the patients according to their age group into eight groups as 70 yrs. Pedestrians formed 46 % (1215) of the victims of RTAs. Among these, 26% were injured by four wheelers, 14% by the two wheelers, 6% by the three wheelers. Remaining 54% were the victims of bicycles, two wheelers, and three wheelers and four wheelers. CONCLUSION: Men are the major victims of road traffic accidents in the age group between 20 – 40 years accounting nearly 50% of the victims in our study. Among the road occupants pedestrians are the most commonly injured victims in our study accounting 46%. Our study has identified the people at major risk for road traffic accidents that is the vulnerable group. These are the target groups who needs active intervention to create awareness among them to prevent road traffic accidents and to promote health consciousness while driving a vehicle. Among the vehicles involved in road traffic accidents four wheeler Vs two wheeler accidents accounted more than one third in our study. The peak hours of accidents in our study were between 12 pm – 3 pm. This can be used to create awareness among the vehicle drivers to be cautious during these hours apart from overall awareness. Among the days Sundays accounted more than one fifth of road traffic accidents in our study and this indicates that the general trend of population migration during the weekends. This can be used to create awareness among the people and the vehicle drivers informing them about the current trend of road traffic accidents in and around Madurai