Using linked motor vehicle crash, emergency medical services, hospital discharge, and death certificate records from the Maine CODES project, crashes and injury outcomes involving vehicles that ran off the road were evaluated. After excluding records where adverse weather or road conditions were factors, 2,641 drivers were studied who ran off a dry road and sustained 1,178 injuries. While they accounted for 1 in 20 Maine drivers involved in crashes, they represented 1 in every 6 drivers who were hospitalised or died and 37 percent of total inpatient hospital charges incurred. These crashes were more common in rural areas with the injury rate per 100 million vehicle miles travelled higher on local roads (28.05) and collectors (11.83) than on arterials or interstates. Young drivers (age 16-24) were 6 times as to be involved in this type of crash than older drivers. The effects of driver behaviour (speeding, alcohol, fatigue) and road characteristics are discussed. (A)
Abstract