Most of our knowledge of road traffic injury epidemiology comes from national accident data collection systems. The introduction of new European legislation and targets makes it important for such databases to be compatible and comparable. Two international data collection programs are aimed at this: the CARE activity (Community Road Accident Database) for the EU and IRTAD (International Road Traffic Accident Database). The differences between national databases within the EU for collection of data on fatalities are outlined with respect to definitions of a traffic fatality and the exclusion of confirmed suicides and natural deaths. All EU member states have national databases that record the number of surviving casualties, dividing them into 'serious', and 'slight' categories. The countries vary in their definition of 'serious' and 'slight'. Under-reporting of casualties is likely to be widespread throughout the EU.
Abstract