SOBERING THOUGHTS ABOUT MOTOR VEHICLES

Over 30 million people have died in traffic crashes since the very first pedestrian death in 1898 and there was little improvement in traffic safety in the first half decade of the 21st century. In 2000 Road crashes killed over 40,000 people in the European Union and more than 1.3 million road crashes involved personal injury. 

Motor vehicle crashes contribute significantly to the burden of injury and deaths worldwide and risky driving behaviours, such as drink driving, speeding, driving and cell phone use and non-use of seatbelts are considered responsible for a significant proportion of this global burden

When a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) strikes a car in frontal impact, there are four driver fatalities in the car for every one driver fatality in the SUV. The problem is even worse in side crashes. When SUVs strike passenger cars on the side, there are 22 passenger car driver fatalities for every SUV driver fatality. This discrepancy is due to mass of the vehicles and the tendency for legs rather than torsos to be injured if you are in the SUV – you are likely to survive a broken leg, less so a ruptured liver!

Ageing of the population and its impact on traffic injuries and fatalities in the world, and increasing numbers of SUVs are reversing some of the recent improvements that have been made in road safety.

In North America and Europe popularity of SUVs, Pick up trucks and even heavier trucks including the military tank like the Hummer is soaring. An important reason for the popularity of SUVs is that people view them as providing better protection to their occupants in crashes.  This in reverse influences SUV and large pick up truck drivers who engage in risk taking behaviours such as non compliance of seat belts, speeding and driving while using cell phones, and a previous study has shown that drivers responded to the increased safety that seat belts provided by speeding excessively.  Rollover risk depends particularly on driver behaviour.  Speed choice and number of SUVs roll over crashes and fatalities are significantly higher in North American roads due to speeding related behaviour of SUV drivers. Seat belt use in automobiles reduces the risk of death by 45% and the risk of severe injury by 50%, while their use in light trucks lowers the risk of death by 60% and severe injury by 65%. In comparison, air bags reduce the risk of death by only 12%. Seat belt use has also been shown to decrease medical costs associated with motor vehicle crash-related injuries.

This research is of relevance to accident investigation experts, medical experts and counsel when clarifying how an accident occurred and explaining the extent of injuries.

Mr J Mackinnon
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Cheltenham & Gloucester Nuffield Hospital

More information can be obtained from him at Hugh Koch Associates, 1 Crescent Bakery, St Georges Place, Cheltenham, GL50 3PN.  Tel: 01242 263715 Fax: 01242 528299 (www.hughkochassociates.co.uk)