title: [Traffic deaths and traffic injuries: also an economic problem for society].
abstract: Based on an epidemiological observation on traffic accidents in the Swiss canton of Ticino, 1985, the following statement is possible: In Switzerland, 900 people die every year as a result of traffic casualties. Many victims of these accidents will be disabled for life. Direct and indirect costs of traffic injuries reach 3 billion Swiss francs a year. Only a small amount (6%) is devoted to medical treatment. The biggest part is due as compensation for lost income, disability allocations and loss of productivity. Among the avoidable fatalities those caused by traffic accidents have a very undesirable effect, because they involve mainly the young. More efforts should be undertaken to lower the mortality on the road, because it changes the Swiss population pyramid in a significant manner.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Abteilung, Ospedale Civico, Lugano.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinoli
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007346:Insurance, Accident / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*