Characteristics and risk factors of traffic injuries in Wenzhou part of Ningbo-Taizhou-Wenzhou highway

Abstract

Objective To study the characteristics and explore risk factors of traffic injuries in Wenzhou part of the Ningbo-Taizhou-Wenzhou (Yong-tai-wen for short) highway during 2005-2009 so as to provide scientific evidence for promoting prevention and cure level of highway traffic injury. Methods The original data of traffic accident in Wenzhou part of the Yong-tai-wen highway during 2005-2009 were collected to carry out the descriptive epidemiological investigation of the injury characteristics.Simultaneously,multi-factor analysis was conducted to screen out the risk factors for traffic accidents. Results A total of 308 traffic accidents involving 603 casualties (157 deaths) were interviewed during 2005-2009.The casualties from expressway traffic accidents declined yearly,but annual death rate was still very high (26.04％).Meanwhile,the males were more likely subjected to traffic injuries than females.The most common injury sites were the head and limb and the main fatal injuries were the head and pelvic injuries.Accident-prone period was from 0:00 to 8:00 in the morning and traffic scenarios were mainly characterized by rear collision (39％).Risk factors for traffic accidents included poor lighting conditions,overloaded vehicles on the road sections,male drivers,driving without a license,fatigue driving and speeding. Conclusions Traffic accidents present high incidence and casualty rates,and are mainly resulted from overloaded and fatigue driving.Therefore,the training and education on safe driving should be done particularly for the males and low driving age drivers to strictly forbid the overload driving,fatigue driving or overspeed driving. Key words: Accidents, traffic; Risk factors; Highway