ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
(RTA)
1
OBJECTIVE
– At the end students will be able to know
• Epidemiology and magnitude of the problem.
• Risk factors for RTA.
• Socio-psychological effects of RTA.
• Methods of prevention of RTA.
2
RTA Definition
• An unexpected, unplanned occurrence that may involve injury.
• An unpremeditated event resulting in recognizable damage. (WHO)
• Recent Definition: A sudden unfavorable event following a series of
consequent and /or parallel human errors.
• In other words: These are the end-products of unsafe acts & unsafe
conditions of work.
• This is because the tracing and investigation of most accidents
indicated that the primary cause could be known, defined, and
prevented.
3
Epidemiology and magnitude of the problem
• Accidents represent a major epidemic of NCDs in the present
century. They are part of the price we pay for technological
progress.
The measurement of the problem:
• Mortality: Assessing the magnitude of the problem.
• Morbidity: It is measured in serious or slight injuries.
• Disability: It may be temporary or permanent, partial or total.
• RTA in many countries ranks first among all fatal accidents.
4
Indicators
• MORTALITY :
A. Proportional mortality rate: The number of deaths due to
accidents per 100 (or 1000) total deaths.
B. Number of deaths per million population: The term "killed" (in
a road traffic accident) is defined as any person who was killed
outright or who died within 30 days as a result of the accident.
C. Death rate per 1000 (or 100,000) registered vehicles per year.
D. Number of accidents or fatalities as the number of vehicles per
kilometer or passengers per kilometer.
E. Deaths of vehicle occupants per 1000 vehicles per year, etc.
5
Indicators
• MORBIDITY
– Morbidity is measured in terms of "serious
injuries" and "slight injuries.”
– The seriousness of the injury is assessed by a scale
known as the "Abbreviated Injury Scale.”
– Morbidity rates are generally less reliable because
of underreporting and misreporting.
6
Indicators
• DISABILITY:
– An important outcome of the accident process is a
disability,
– which may be temporary or permanent, partial or
total.
– Measurement of disability in terms of its duration
is a limited concept; it does not consider the
psychological or social aspects of an accident or
injury.
7
Epidemiology and magnitude of the problem
• Globally, Every year, the lives of approximately 1.3 million
people are cut short as a result of a road traffic crash.
• Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal
injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their
injury.
• In Saudi Arabia: Over 65% of accidents occur because of
vehicles traveling at excess speed and/or drivers disobeying
traffic signals.
• Of deaths in Ministry of Health hospitals, 81% are due to road
traffic accidents, and 20% of their beds are occupied by traffic
accident victims.
8
RISK FACTORS
• Accidents are a complex phenomena of multiple causation .
• The Risk factors classified into:-
A. HUMAN:
• Age : Young drivers and Old age
• Sex : Male predominance
• Education : Literate
• Medical condition as impaired vision , heart attach
• Drug use as antihistamines
• Fatigue
• Psychosocial factors as lack of experience –delay in decisions-
aggressiveness – poor perception –risk taking .
• Lack of body protection as safety belts.
• Alcohol and drug abuse.
90% of the factors responsible for RTA are attribute to human failure.
9
Distracted driving
• Many types of distractions can lead to impaired driving, the use of
mobile phones by drivers concern for road safety.
• The distraction caused by mobile phones can impair driving
performance in several ways,
– e.g., longer reaction times (notably braking reaction time, but also a reaction to
traffic signals),
– Impaired ability to keep in the correct lane and shorter following distances.
• Text messaging also results in considerably reduced driving
performance,
• Drivers using a mobile phone are approximately four times more likely
to be involved in a crash.
• Prevention by legislative measures, launching public awareness
campaigns and regularly collecting data on distracted driving to
understand the nature of this problem better.
10
--Contd
B. ENVIRONMENTAL
• Relating to road as Narrow roads -Poor lighting.
• Bad weather.
• Mixed traffic as slow and fast , walker, & animals.
C. FACTORS RELATED TO CAR
• Poorly maintained car with defective brakes, light, engines or tyre.
SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
• Feeling guilty for those who were exposed to accidents.
• Effects on the families losing member.
• Increase use of psychotropic drugs, difficulty in performing occupational
functions.
11
PREVENTION
• Accidents cause must be identified by epidemiological methods.
• Accidents are multifactorial , they call for an intersectoral approach.
The following various measures:
1. Data collection
2. Safety education
3. Promotion of safety measures
4. Alcohol and other drugs
5. Primary care
6. Elimination of causative factors
7. Enforcement of laws
8. Rehabilitation services
9. Accident research
12
--Contd
• Data collection: there should be a basic reporting system of all accidents. To studies risk
factors leading up to accidents.
- Without adequate data no effective prevention.
• Safety education: if accident is a disease , education is its vaccine.
- Safety education must begin with school children.
- The drivers need to be trained in proper maintenance of vehicles ,safe
driving, and first aid.
• Promotion of safety measures:
- Seat belt :use of it reduce 50% of injuries.
- Safety helmets : it reduce risk of head injury 30% on an average .
- Leather clothing and boots
- Children :should not be take the front seats of cars.
• Alcohol and other drugs:
- Alcohol cause 30%-50% of RTA. Drugs like amphetamines should be avoided.
13
--Contd
• Primary care: planning , organization and management of trauma treatment
and emergency care services .
- Should be fully equipped specialized trauma care hospital in all major cities.
• Elimination of causative factors :as improvement of roads , marking of danger
points.
• Enforcement of laws as driving test – medical fitness - speed limits-
compulsory wearing of seat belts – checking of blood alcohol concentration.
• Rehabilitation services: Medical , social ,occupational rehabilitation ..etc
- Aim is to prevent, reduce or compensate disability and thereby handicap.
• Accident Research (Accidentology) : Concerned with gathering information
about personal and environments causes of accidents and ways to prevention.
THANKYOU
14
