The impact of four-wheel drives on road traffic disability and deaths compared to passenger cars | [Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP • 2006]

Author(s):

1. Abdulbar Biener: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Hamad General Hospital and Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar and Dept. Evidence for Population Health Unit, School of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

2. A. Ghaffar: Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva, Switzerland.

3. Abu Azab: Department of Surgery, Al-Ain Hospital, Ministry of Health, Al-Ain, UAE.

4. M. Sankaran-Kutty: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, UAE University, Al-Ain, UAE.

5. F. Toth: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tawam Hospital, Ministry of Health, Al-Ain, UAE and

6. G. Lovasz: Department of Orthopaedics, University of P6cs, IfjusSg str 13, P6cs H-7643, Hungary.

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of injuries resulting from road traffic crashes involving four wheel drives (4WD) vehicles and passenger cars in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Al-Ain and Tawam Hospital, UAE, during a period from 1 st January to 31st December 2000. Patients and Methods: A questionnaire was created and filled out concerning: sociodemographic information; data about driving behavior and attitude which included driving experience, adherence to traffic laws (including speed limits and wearing seat belt), driving habits, and assessment of sustained injury was performed according to the Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS). Results: A total of 1157 motor vehicle crashes related casualty patients were hospitalized during the year 2000. Of these total patients, 495 victims (42.8%) were involved with 4WDs road traffic crashes related injuries and 72.9% of them required hospitalization. Of these, 76.8% were males, 60.7% were non-UAE nationals. The head injury was more common in those who had crashes from 4WD vehicles (45.6%) than those who had crashes from small cars (37.3%). Abbreviated injury scare showed that four wheelers caused more severe (9.1%), serious (10.3%), critical (8.3%) and moderate injuries (13.9%). A significant higher risk was observed for speed violations (OR=2.06; 95% 01=1.55-2.76, p<0.001); property damage (OR=1.54; 95% 01=1.07-2.22, p<0.014) and pedestrian accident (OR=2.09; 95% 01=1.46-2.99, p<0.001). Conclusion: The present study findings indicated that nearly half of the road traffic crashes were involved with 4WD vehicles and that most of the injured individuals were pedestrian and younger drivers. Reduction in motor vehicle injuries and deaths represents a major public health success.

Page(s): 257-260

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP, Volume: 16, Issue: 4, Year: 2006

Keywords:

Motor vahicle accidents Pedestrian injuries Road traffic crashes Fourwheel drive

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