The aim of this study was to provide initial information concerning differences and similarities between MIC-accident trends in Finland and the U.S. for a planned empirical study on cross-cultural differences between these two countries. The emphasis in the analysis was on fatal accidents and fatalities, since it is well known that accidents involving nonfatal injuries are reported less reliably. The U.S. data are for 1988. The Finnish data, because of the smaller number of accidents, are (in most instances) for 1987-1989. The Finnish data are based on the information provided in three reports by the Central Organization for Traffic Safety in Finland (1987, 1988, 1989). The U.S. data are primarily from the Fatal Accident Reporting System (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1988). The U.S. injury-accidents data in Table 1, as well as the U.S. data in Figures 2 and 3, are based on information in Accident Facts (National Safety Council, 1989). The U.S. exposure data in Figure 6 are based on information in United Nations (1989). The data are presented in tabular form and in figures. Each table and figure is followed by brief comments on the main features. The table and figures cover the following areas: general statistics (Table 1, and Figures 1 through 4), vehicular factors (Figures 5 and 6), environmental factors (Figures 7 through ll), and human factors (Figures 12through 18). (A category "unknown" was included only if it contained at least 1.0%.) It is acknowledged that differences in the reporting systems of the two countries could be responsible for some of the obtained findings and only some data on exposure were available. Furthermore, no statistical tests of significance were performed. Consequently, the obtained differences should be viewed only as possible trends. Finally, it should be noted that the sizes of the two countries are substantially different: Finland has a population of around 5 million whereas the population in the U.S. is around 245 million. Consequently, the variability of factors related to driving and traffic accidents in the U.S. is large compared with that of Finland. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting