Automobile industry always tries to improve the designs of the vehicles to improve their safety. This is done primarily by observing the type of injuries which the victims of accidents sustain. Keeping in view pattern of injuries the vehicles are modified to prevent such injuries in future. In India for the individual more than 4 years of age, more life years are lost due to traffic crashes than due to cardiovascular diseases or neoplasm. This study was conducted on the autopsy cases done in Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India, in the year 2005. Out of the total 533 autopsy done here, 237 (44.46 per cent) were of road traffic accident victims. Various types of injuries and their distribution were studied. Also epidemiological factors affecting the occurrence of road side accidents were studied to set preventive measures to avoid such crashes. Out of total cases most commonly affected age group was of between 21 to 40 years (59 per cent) which is most active age group. Males were more prone to fatal road accident and were 81.8 per cent. Most of the people died in accident belong to rural area (70.8 per cent). Regarding time of accident, it was found that maximum no. of accident occurred in evening i.e. between 2PM & 8PM (47.8 per cent). In most of the cases multiple organ were involved. Head injury was seen to be fatal in 86 per cent cases with skull fracture in 62 per cent while chest injury was seen in 20 per cent cases and abdominal in 14 per cent cases either alone or together. Limbs were found to be involved in 76 per cent percent of cases. Right side of body was involved in 56 per cent cases, left in 22 per cent and both sides of body in 22 per cent cases. It was concluded from the study that age group between 20 to 40 years should be main focus for education. In our societal setup male being more mobile are exposed to these risk and thus to be stressed upon. Also rural people who lack the knowledge of various traffic rules should be educated accordingly. Thus aim of this study is assisting automobile manufacturers and government policy planning to saves the lives of people from these fatal accidents. (A). For the covering abstract of the conference see E216632.
Abstract