[Human risk factors and injuries due to road accidents: analysis of current data].
OBJECTIVE
several studies have shown that most road accidents are due to human factors, and that these are strongly linked to a drive's age and sex. The aim of this study is to test the role that some human factors play in road accidents by analysing current road accident data in the Province of Pavia, in Northern Italy.


METHODS
road accidents that occurred in 2004 were analysed by integrating the paper database of the vehicle licensing office, properly computerised, with the 911 database of the Province of Pavia. This study has been carried out by analysing 1.347 road accidents and the associated 2.908 drivers of motorised vehicles.


METHODS
Northern Italy, the Province of Pavia.


RESULTS
the death rate of drivers of 2-wheeled vehicles is almost nine times higher than that of 4-wheeled vehicles. Analysis shows that females are twice as exposed to road accidents than males; it also shows the benefits of extensive road education training and of being aged 30-64 and older. Drivers who have already been punished and have had their driving license scores reduced are likely to respond rapidly when in a dangerous situation and also to be without blame after an accident. Motorcycle riders are 25 times more likely to suffer serious injury than drivers of cars. Additionally, the risk of a woman being seriously injured is higher than for a man.


CONCLUSIONS
females, young drivers and motorcycle riders who have not previously been penalised for a previous traffic violation have a higher risk of being seriously injured; females and motorcycle riders are also at greater risk of being seriously injured. We hope that this analysis will be used to improve preventative interventions for road accidents.r.
Marchetti
Pierpaolo
P
Dipartimento di scienze sanitarie applicate, Sezione di statistica medica ed epidemiologia, Università di Pavia, Via Bassi 21, Pavia. pierpaolo.marchetti@unipv.it
Morandi
Anna
A
Lombardo
Carlo
C
Gigli Berzolari
Francesca
F
Bruno
Vincenzo
V
Marinoni
Alessandra
A
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult