Traffic injuries are the leading cause of unintentional injuries and account for a large proportion of fatalities resulting from them, imposing a significant burden on individuals and society. The World Health Organization has indicated that road accidents could become a leading cause of death worldwide by 2030 if we do not take immediate action.
When examining the main factors that increase the likelihood of death after traffic accidents, a reliable study points to the following:
(1) Demographic factors; (2) Behavioral factors; (3) Mechanism or characteristics of the accident; (4) Environmental and temporal factors; (5) Injury severity and the patient’s condition before the injury.
1 – Demographic factors:
The male gender is closely linked to a higher risk of death compared with females. Age is also a factor, with individuals aged between 25 and 44 years being more prone to death after car accidents.
Additionally, persons with low educational levels, those who were unemployed, or those with low income were more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents. Unmarried individuals were also more prone to die if involved in a collision compared to married individuals.
2 – Behavioral factors:
Numerous characteristics of the accident itself and human-related factors have been associated with an increased risk of death among injured patients after traffic accidents.
Factors associated with an increased risk of death include speeds exceeding 111 km/h, consumption of alcohol or drugs such as ethanol and amphetamines, not wearing a seatbelt, and failure to use a safety helmet by motorcyclists and bicyclists.
Moreover, the risk of death was high when motorcyclists did not possess a driver’s license or were riding a high-powered motorcycle.
Pedestrians who violated road rules, such as crossing at unauthorized spots or walking in the dark or wearing dark clothing at night, also faced a higher risk of death. Furthermore, pedestrian fatality risk increased when vehicle speeds surpassed 80 km/h or when the driver was under the influence of drugs.
3 – Mechanism and characteristics of the accident:
Regarding accident characteristics, the study highlighted the following factors that increase the risk of death after an accident: collision with a stationary object, ejection from the vehicle, crashes impacting the driver’s side or similar side impact on passengers, and head-on collisions with motorcycles.
Vehicle types prone to higher risk compared with others include small and dilapidated/old vehicles, sport utility vehicles. The risk of pedestrian fatalities was higher when the other party was involved in heavy and semi-heavy vehicles (trucks, vans, buses) or pickup trucks.
4 – Environmental and temporal factors:
A consistent environmental factor linked with fatalities was accidents occurring during nighttime. Other factors commonly linked to fatalities include: accidents during weekends, in summer. Furthermore, fatalities increased when accidents occurred on highways, curved roads, and during rain.
Fatal pedestrian accidents mostly occurred on urban highways, when crossing roads outside designated crossing points, during school holiday months, in rainy seasons, and in winter.
5 – Injury severity and the patient’s condition before injury:
The study concluded that head injuries were a major factor in death from all types of traffic accidents, and chest and abdominal injuries were associated with fatalities, whereas lower limb injuries and multiple injuries were linked with pedestrian disability. Pelvic injuries were also one of the common factors in deaths across all types of accidents except among cyclists.
It was also concluded that the patient’s pre-injury condition significantly influences the recovery journey. Studies reported that those with chronic diseases, obesity, or underweight face an increased risk of death. Additionally, impaired vision among drivers and physical disabilities among pedestrians were linked to a higher risk of pedestrian fatalities after traffic accidents.
