title: Road traffic accident mortality in Singapore.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify factors that contribute to road traffic accident mortality and the patterns of injuries sustained by these victims, with a view to identifying areas for future intervention. All road traffic accident deaths that occurred in Singapore over a period of 1 year were reviewed. A total of 226 deaths occurred: 82.3% of the victims were male. The median age was 31 years. Blood alcohol was detected in 42 (18.7%) victims. In general, head (86.7%), followed by thoracic (67.7%) and abdominal (31.4%) injuries, were the most common injuries. Severe lower extremity trauma was most common among pedestrians and pedal cyclists (20.6% and 11.0%, respectively). The mean Injury Severity Score was 38.7. The relative risk of mortality between motorcyclists and motorcar drivers was 18.8:1. Suggestions for future prevention and intervention include stricter enforcement of speed limits, more severe penalties for drunk driving, helmet use among pedal cyclists, and the introduction of pre-hospital advanced airway management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Mark K F
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Venkataraman
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anantharaman
authors.forename: Lata
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Keng Poh
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Tzee Cheng
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011482:Protective Devices; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*