This study is the first phase of research into the outcome of road accidents in which a car end up in the water. Accident and injury data for 1983-2000 from the road accident registration of the Basic Data Department of the Transport Research Centre (AVV-BG) was analysed. This to determine the present size, nature, and severity of such accidents. According to the 1997-2000 data there were 50 injury accidents a year in which a car ended up in deep water. There was an average of 22 deaths a year. There was an average of 750 injury accidents in which a car ended up in a ditch or gulley, resulting in an average of 40 deaths a year. Based on the police accident registration forms, it is estimated that in this annual total of 62 road deaths, drowning was the cause of death in more than 30 cases. This number is confirmed by the Cause of Death statistics of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). During the whole period of 18 years (1983-2000) there was a decrease of circa 20% of the number of fatal accidents ending up in deep water. This decrease is less than the general, national decrease of circa 35% in the total number of road deaths from car accidents during the same period. In comparison with the average car accident, accidents in which cars end up in deep water have a greater severity, occur more on rural roads and on 80 km/h roads, and occur much more often in certain provinces and municipalities than in others. Accidents in which cars end up in deep water or a ditch/gulley occur more often during weekends, hours of darkness, in winter, and during periods of snow and fog. They are more often single vehicle accidents, i.e. no other road users were involved. The drivers of cars ending up in deep water or a ditch/gulley are more often young, more often male, and more often while driving under influence. The victims of these accidents are also more often male and young. For part II see C 25603 (ITRD E206740).
Abstract