68 The Diurnal and Seasonal Relationships of Young Pedestrian Injuries Secondary to Motor Vehicles

Abstract

Abstract Aim There remains a significant morbidity and mortality in young pedestrians hit by motor vehicles. The of this study was to compare the incidence and injury severity of motor vehicle-related pedestrian trauma according to time of day and season in a young population. Method Data was retrieved from the National Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) database for patients between 10-25 years old who had been involved as pedestrians in motor vehicle accidents between 2013 -2020. The incidence of injuries, their severity (using the Injury Severity Score [ISS]), and mortality were analysed according to the hours of daylight, darkness, and season. Results The study identified a seasonal pattern, highlighting that injuries were most prevalent during autumn (34.9% of injuries). Prevalence decreased throughout the year from winter (25.4%) to summer (18.3%). The greatest incident rate (number of incidents/hour) occurred between 1500-1630hrs, correlating to school pick up times. A significant relationship between ISS and daylight hours was demonstrated (p-value = 0.0124), whereby moderate injuries (ISS score: 9-15) were more likely during the day (72.7%), while severe injuries (ISS Score > 15) were more likely at night (55.8%). Conclusions We identified a relationship between the time of day and the frequency and severity of pedestrian trauma in young people. In addition, particular time groupings correspond to the greatest incidents rate, suggesting that reduced visibility coupled with school pick up times play a significant role. We recommend targeted public health measures to improve road safety that focus on these high-risk times of the day.