TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN ANALYSED SYSTEMATICALLY IN GOETEBORG SINCE 1966. FOR THIS A COMPUTER-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED SINCE 1971. THIS SYSTEM PROCESSES ACCIDENT AND ENVIRONMENT DATA FROM POLICE REPORTS AND TRAFFIC MEASUREMENTS AND FACILITATES CONTINUOUS TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS PER YEAR IN GOETEBORG DECREASED FROM 6000 TO 3900 DURING 1971-1980, MAINLY AS A RESULT OF SUCCESSFUL TRAFFIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS. A COMPLEMENTARY REGISTRATION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASUALTIES WAS STARTED AT THE EMERGENCY HOSPITALS IN 1979. THE PURPOSE WAS IMPROVED INJURY CLASSIFICATION AND DECREASED NUMBER OF NOT-REPORTED ACCIDENTS. THIS HOSPITAL-BASED PRIMARY REGISTRATION WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR PATIENTS INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DURING THREE MONTHS IN 1979. THE TIME IN HOSPITAL, THE HOSPITAL COSTS, THE TIME ON SICK-LEAVE AND COMPENSATIONS FROM THE HEALTH INSURANCE INDICATED THE ACCIDENT OUTCOME. THE TIME IN HOSPITAL AND THE HOSPITAL COSTS WERE FOUND TO BE THE MOST USEFUL ACCIDENT OUTCOME VARIABLES. PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS WERE BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT CATEGORY ACCORDING TO THIS ANALYSIS. IMPROVED TRAFFIC SAFETY DEPENDS AMONG OTHER THINGS ON RELIABLE TRAFFIC AND ACCIDENT DATA. A CONTINUED DECREASE IN ACCIDENT NUMBER SHOULD BE A GOAL FOR THE ROAD TRAFFIC AUTHORITIES. A MORE DIFFERENTIATED INJURY CLASSIFICATION SHOULD IMPROVE THE ACCIDENT ANALYSIS AND JUSTIFY A CONTINUED USE OF THIS SYSTEM. MEDICAL INFORMATION CAN BE USED IN A MORE PRECISE WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS AS INDICATED IN THIS STUDY.(A) FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE SEE IRRD 802816.
Abstract