Road safety: serious injuries remain a major unsolved problem
- 11 September 2017
- journal article
- Published by AMPCo in The Medical Journal of Australia
- Vol. 207 (6), 244-249
- https://doi.org/10.5694/mja17.00015
Abstract
To investigate temporal trends in the incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and costs of health loss caused by serious road traffic injury. A retrospective review of data from the population-based Victorian State Trauma Registry and the National Coronial Information System on road traffic-related deaths (pre- and in-hospital) and major trauma (Injury Severity Score > 12) during 2007-2015.Main outcomes and measures: Temporal trends in the incidence of road traffic-related major trauma, mortality, DALYs, and costs of health loss, by road user type. There were 8066 hospitalised road traffic major trauma cases and 2588 road traffic fatalities in Victoria over the 9-year study period. There was no change in the incidence of hospitalised major trauma for motor vehicle occupants (incidence rate ratio [IRR] per year, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.99-1.01; P = 0.70), motorcyclists (IRR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.01; P = 0.45) or pedestrians (IRR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.97-1.02; P = 0.73), but the incidence for pedal cyclists increased 8% per year (IRR, 1.08; 95% CI; 1.05-1.10; P < 0.001). While DALYs declined for motor vehicle occupants (by 13% between 2007 and 2015), motorcyclists (32%), and pedestrians (5%), there was a 56% increase in DALYs for pedal cyclists. The estimated costs of health loss associated with road traffic injuries exceeded $14 billion during 2007-2015, although the cost per patient declined for all road user groups. As serious injury rates have not declined, current road safety targets will be difficult to meet. Greater attention to preventing serious injury is needed, as is further investment in road safety, particularly for pedal cyclists.Keywords
Funding Information
- Department of Health and Human Services, State Government of Victoria
- State Government of Victoria
- Transport Accident Commission
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- The global burden of injury: incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years and time trends from the Global Burden of Disease study 2013Injury Prevention, 2015
- Defining major trauma using the 2008 Abbreviated Injury ScaleInjury, 2015
- Reduced Population Burden of Road Transport–related Major Trauma After Introduction of an Inclusive Trauma SystemAnnals of Surgery, 2015
- Level of agreement between patient and proxy responses to the EQ-5D health questionnaire 12 months after injuryThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2012
- Population-Based Capture of Long-Term Functional and Quality of Life Outcomes After Major Trauma: The Experiences of the Victorian State Trauma RegistryThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2010
- A statewide system of trauma care in Victoria: effect on patient survivalThe Medical Journal of Australia, 2008
- Using multiple datasets to understand trends in serious road traffic casualtiesAccident Analysis & Prevention, 2008
- Developing Australia's first statewide trauma registry: what are the lessons?Anz Journal of Surgery, 2004
- Modeling Valuations for EuroQol Health StatesMedical Care, 1997
- EuroQol: the current state of playHealth Policy, 1996