Citation

Jacobs GD. Proc. IRCOBI 1975; 3: 56-64.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Road accident data are compiled here in an effort to compare numbers of deaths from road accidents with deaths from other causes, in particular, with diseases prevalent in the countries concerned. Road accident rates in these countries are compared with those in Europe and America, and estimates have been made of the cost of road accidents to developing countries. The study found that road accidents, which are not insignificant compared with other social problems, are high in comparison with developed countries, and the total road accident costs are considerable. It was found that the fatality rates (per vehicle) decreased with increasing vehicle ownership in over 30 developing countries. Over a 10-year period, some of the countries showed an increase in the fatality rate per licensed vehicle. A recent study indicates that data collection and analysis methods in these countries are inadequate and there are more accidents than appear in statistical summaries.