Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Motor Vehicles”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Predisposing factors leading to child trauma. An analysis of specific versus non-specific causes in motor vehicle and drowning fatalities.

In many Western countries, trauma is the chief cause of death in children aged one to 14 years. A large number of these deaths are the result of motor vehicle accidents or drowning. It is postulated that the causes of such trauma can be classified into (a) non-specific, predetermining social factors; (b) specific social factors; and (c) acute triggers. Prevention strategies vary considerably for these three groups. Prevention is most cost-effective when directed against specific social factors. In this paper, data for childhood motor vehicle and drowning fatalities in Australia have been analysed and scored for non-specific social influences on childhood accidents such as overcrowding or poverty. This approach allows the ranking of different communities by risk. Motor vehicle accident ratios have been calculated, and these are sufficiently specific, by age and sex, to enable comparisons to be made in future with other communities.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

The occurrence and driver characteristics associated with motor vehicle injuries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Ethiopian documentation of the occurrence and determinants of motor vehicle related morbidity and mortality is sparse. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the incidence of hospital treated motor vehicle injuries (MVI) in Addis Ababa and driver characteristics associated with involvement in a MVI. The study was conducted over a 12-week period in the autumn of 1988. Over 91% of MVI involved pedestrians. The overall MVI incidence density rate was 279.4 per 100,000 person years and the mortality rate was 17.6 per 100,000 population per year. Road accident injury and fatality rates were 946 and 59.5 respectively per 10,000 registered vehicles. Overall years of person life lost was 595 per 100,000 person-years exposure. Significantly increased odds of exposure among drivers inflicting a MVI were found for younger age, fewer years driving experience, male gender, and those driving newer, government owned, and mass transit vehicles.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2004

Post traumatic stress disorder among motor vehicle accident survivors attending the orthopaedic and trauma clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence rate of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated risk factors among motor vehicle accident (MVA) survivors attending the orthopaedic and trauma clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. SUBJECTS: One hundred and ninety seven adult males and sixty seven female patients. METHOD: The 264 patients were interviewed using a questionnaire to collect the socio-demographic data, the Self Rating Questionnaire (SRQ) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Diagnosis was made using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). RESULTS: The mean age was 34.63+/-12.71 years (range 18-65). Overall, the prevalence rate of PTSD was 13.3%. None of the cases had been previously diagnosed as having PTSD. Females had a higher rate of 17.9% (n = 67), compared to the males 11.7% (n=197). The majority of those with PTSD (42.9%) were young, 20 - 29 years. Other risk factors were having post-primary education (62.9%), experiencing the first motor vehicle accident (14.1%), previous psychiatric illness, and other medical illnesses. The type of accident, role/status and immediate reactions to the accident were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD following motor vehicle accidents is common. Although the MVA survivors do develop significant rates of PTSD, it is not easy to identify those at risk but some of the parameters documented in this study may help. A multi disciplinary approach is therefore essential in the management of the RTA survivors at the orthopaedic and trauma clinics if their physical and psychological needs are to be adequately addressed

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Along for the ride: the prevalence of motor vehicle passengers riding with drivers who have been drinking in an American Indian population.

American Indians, especially those residing in the Northern Plains, experience considerable preventable morbidity and mortality from alcohol-related motor vehicle events. Research focusing on unintentional injuries associated with drinking drivers has disregarded the epidemiology of their passengers, who are equally at risk. The purpose of this investigation was to define the prevalence of motor vehicle passengers riding with drivers who have been drinking on a Northern Plains Reservation. We surveyed a sample of 151 Northern Plains Indians about their experiences riding with drinking drivers. Associated behavioral and demographic risk factors were also examined to identify possible predictor variables. The majority (54%) of respondents reported riding with a driver who had been drinking at least once during the previous three months. Most often, passengers ride with a friend who has been drinking, on a weekend night. Injury risk may be compounded because few respondents reported regular seat-belt use. The results off our study suggest the need for immediate comprehensive prevention efforts focusing on motor vehicle passengers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Epidemiologic features and the stepwise regression analysis of fatal motor vehicle accidents in Guangzhou].

This paper describes the epidemiologic features of 1,532 fatal motor vehicle crashes, and analyses of some crash-related factors by means of stepwise regression analysis as well. The crashes between motor vehicle and bicycle accounted for 39.49 percent. The 36.84 percent of drivers responsible for accidents were at the age of 20-24. The analysis of accident victim characteristics indicated that all age groups were at risk. Most victims were the people younger than 25 years old as well as aged 50 and over. About one-third of the victims were peasants. The analysis of stepwise regression suggested that the crashes were positively related to the quantity of automobile and the ratio between male and female.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2002

[Severe injuries following road traffic accidents with registered motor vehicles among the inhabitants of the municipality of Odense 1990-1999].

INTRODUCTION: Since 1990, the number of persons treated at the Odense University Hospital for injuries following road traffic with registered motor vehicles has increased. In this study we wanted to examine if the increase included an increase in more severe injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included all inhabitants in the Municipality of Odense treated at the Odense University Hospital for more severe injuries (MAIS > or = 3) following road traffic accidents as drivers or passengers in registered motor vehicles during the period January 1st 1990 to December 31st 1999. RESULTS: 241 persons were included. 177 (73 per cent) were men. The median age was 29.5 years for men and 57 years for women. The total incidence was 1.3 injuries per inhabitant/year. No significant increase was recorded during the period 1990 to 1998. Single accidents without counterpart were the most frequent type of accidents (55 per ent). 66 per cent of the persons were hospitalised and 24 per cent died as a result of their injuries. Injuries localised at the head and neck were most frequent (29 per cent) followed by injuries localised at legs and arms (18 per cent and 23 per cent). DISCUSSION: The incidence of more severe injuries following road traffic accidents with registered motor vehicles was constant during the period. Accidents involving young men and single accidents were dominating. Prophylactic measures should be aimed at this type of road users.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2004

Reducing motor-vehicle collisions, costs, and fatalities by treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Drivers suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have an increased risk for being involved in motor-vehicle collisions. This study estimates, for the first time, the annual OSAS-related collisions, costs, and fatalities in the United States and performs a cost-benefit analysis of treating drivers suffering from OSAS with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). DESIGN: The MEDLINE-PubMed database (1980 to 2003) was searched for information on OSAS. A meta-analysis was performed of studies investigating the relationship between collisions and OSAS. Data from the National Safety Council were used to estimate OSAS-related collisions, costs, and fatalities and their reduction with treatment. Next, the annual cost of treating OSAS with CPAP was calculated. Finally, multiple 1-way sensitivity analyses were performed. SETTING: N/A. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: N/A. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: More than 800,000 drivers were involved in OSAS-related motor-vehicle collisions in the year 2000. These collisions cost 15.9 billion dollars and 1,400 lives in the year 2000. In the United States, treating all drivers suffering from OSAS with CPAP would cost 3.18 billion dollars, save 11.1 billion dollars in collision costs, and save 980 lives annually. CONCLUSION: Annually, a small but significant portion of motor-vehicle collisions, costs, and deaths are related to OSAS. With CPAP treatment, most of these collisions, costs, and deaths can be prevented. Treatment of OSAS benefits both the patient and the public.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1997

Motor-vehicle crash fatalities among American Indians and non-Indians in Arizona, 1979 through 1988.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the contributions of rural residence, alcohol use, and pedestrian fatalities to the high American Indian motor-vehicle crash mortality rate in Arizona. METHODS: Records from the Fatal Accident Reporting System were used to examine mortality rates between 1979 and 1988. RESULTS: American Indians had increased relative risks in all motor-vehicle crash categories in all residence-gender groups. The percentage of excess mortality associated with alcohol varied from 36.8% to 66.7%, and the percentage associated with pedestrian deaths ranged from 27.2% to 55.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to reduce excess motor-vehicle crash mortality among American Indians should concentrate on preventing pedestrian and alcohol-related fatalities.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2005

Onset of neck pain after a motor vehicle accident: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative contribution of constitutional (individual) factors, pre-accident health, psychological and workplace psychosocial factors, and accident related (mechanical) factors in the development of neck pain (whiplash) following a motor vehicle accident. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of drivers (ages 17-70 yrs) who reported a motor vehicle accident to their insurance company. A self-report mailed questionnaire retrospectively collected information on the driver's pre- and post-accident health, details of the accident, and other exposure data. Case/control status (post-accident neck pain) was ascertained using a preshaded manikin. RESULTS: In total, 26% of drivers reported post-accident neck pain. Women, younger individuals, and those with a history of neck pain were more likely to report neck pain following their accident (OR 1.50, 95% CI 0.98, 2.28; OR 1.62, 95% CI 0.96, 2.74; OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.09, 2.81, respectively). In addition, a number of accident related and psychosocial factors were independently associated with reporting post-accident neck pain: collision from behind (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.41, 4.62); vehicle stationary at impact (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.12, 3.33); collision severity (upper vs lowest tertile: OR 16.1, 95% CI 8.64, 30.1); not being at fault (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.49, 4.59); and monotonous work (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.19, 4.04). Based on these 8 factors, the likelihood of having neck pain increased from 7% with < or = 2 risk factors to 62% with > or = 5. CONCLUSION: Development of neck pain after a motor vehicle accident is a complex phenomenon resulting from the combined effects of constitutional, mechanical, and psychosocial factors. Using 8 such variables it is possible to identify those at high risk of developing neck pain.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1998

Deliberate exposure to motor vehicle exhaust gas: the psychosocial profile of attempted suicide.

OBJECTIVE: Deliberate exposure to motor vehicle exhaust gas has become the second most commonly used method of suicide in Australia. In an attempt to understand the factors contributing to the rise in popularity of this method, the psychosocial profiles, factors influencing method choice and circumstances of the act of self-harm were examined in a group of survivors. METHOD: A cross-sectional cohort study of 30 patients presenting for hyperbaric oxygen treatment having survived deliberate exposure to car exhaust gas was undertaken. A structured clinical interview was administered together with scales measuring depression, hopelessness and suicidal intent. Daily assessment of mental state and cognitive function was performed. RESULTS: Factors common to the majority of subjects included male gender, age group of 20-50 years, and alcohol abuse. Relationship discord was the most common precipitating factor. Reasons given for choice of this method included the availability and accessibility of motor vehicles, painlessness, awareness that the method was lethal, knowledge of another person's successful suicide by this method and awareness of the method through media portrayal. Most of the cars used did not have engines fitted with catalytic converters, substantially increasing the risk of toxicity. Regret of the attempt, denial of further suicidal ideation after the event, and the absence of a suicide note were common findings. Most denied excessive time spent planning. The most common diagnosis in this group was adjustment disorder with depressed mood. Suicide intent scores were not high, inconsistent with the majority of patients being aware of the lethality of the method. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic findings resemble those of psychological autopsy studies of subjects completing suicide by this method. Survival in this group was due to failure of the method or unexpected discovery rather than patient factors. This population described the method as highly acceptable and accessible emphasising the urgent need for reduction of access to this means of suicide in Australia.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1998

Sleepiness, driving, and motor vehicle crashes. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the contribution of driver sleepiness to highway crashes and review recent recommendations to change federal hours-of-service regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers. DATA SOURCES: Information was derived from a search of the MEDLINE, Transportation Research Information Service (TRIS), and Bibliographic Electronic Databases of Sleep (BEDS) databases from 1975 through 1997 and from manual review of the reference lists in relevant journal articles, government publications, conference proceedings, and textbooks. DATA SYNTHESIS: Driver sleepiness is a causative factor in 1% to 3% of all US motor vehicle crashes. Surveys of the prevalence of sleepy behavior in drivers suggest that sleepiness may be a more common cause of highway crashes than is reflected in these estimates. About 96% of sleep-related crashes involve passenger vehicle drivers and 3% involve drivers of large trucks. Risk factors include youth, shift work, alcohol and other drug use, over-the-counter and prescription medications, and sleep disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Increased awareness of the relationship between sleepiness and motor vehicle crashes will promote the health and safety of drivers and highway users. Physicians can contribute by encouraging good sleep habits, recognizing and treating sleep-related problems, and counseling patients about the risks of driving while sleepy. To protect public health and safety, the American Medical Association recommends continued research on devices and technologies to detect the signs of sleepiness and prevent the deterioration of driver alertness and performance. Educational programs about the risks of falling asleep while driving are needed for physicians, the public, and commercial truck drivers.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

Inpatient costs of injury due to motor vehicle traffic crashes in New Zealand.

The hospital inpatient costs for the treatment of injury were obtained for Dunedin Hospital for a two-year period using the Resource Utilisation System. These data were used as a basis for estimating national inpatient costs for motor vehicle traffic crashes (MVTCs). The results show that injuries were on average more expensive to treat than non-injuries ($3,115 vs. $2,749 per case). At a mean cost of $5,253 per case, injuries due to MVTCs were the most expensive class of injury event to treat. The average cost of treating a case varied by the class of road user, nature of injury, and severity of injury. Pedestrians were on average, twice as costly to treat as motor vehicle occupants. Costs for treating the late effects of motor vehicle crashes were higher, with a mean cost of $5,695. Internal injuries were on average 4.5 times more expensive to treat than intracranial injuries, the least expensive group of injuries to treat. On average, critical injuries cost 15 times more to treat than minor injuries. The cost of treating pedestrians was disproportionately higher than that for other road users. Nationally pedestrians accounted for 10% of all hospitalised road users, but they contributed 18% of the total cost. Internal injuries had the highest disproportionate cost accounting for 7% of cases and 16% of the costs. Similarly, severe and critical injuries combined accounted for 6% of the national cases but contributed 19% of the national costs. Overall, the leading contribution to the total national cost were made by occupants (43%), lower limb fractures (24%), and moderate injuries (37%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed2004

Factors associated with higher levels of injury severity in occupants of motor vehicles that were severely damaged in traffic crashes in Kentucky, 2000-2001.

OBJECTIVES: The majority of motor vehicle occupants who were killed or hospitalized in crashes in Kentucky in 2000-2001 occupied vehicles that were severely damaged in the crash. Even so, overall only a small percentage of all severely damaged vehicle occupants were killed or hospitalized. The purpose was to identify occupant, vehicle, crash, and roadway/environmental factors that were associated with increased risk of severe injury in crashes where the occupant's vehicle was severely damaged. METHODS: This study probabilistically linked Kentucky's statewide motor vehicle crash and inpatient hospital discharge data files for 2000 and 2001, and selected cases representing occupants of vehicles that were reported by police as having either "severe" or "very severe" damage. For occupants who were identified through data linkage as having been hospitalized, the Injury Severity Score (ISS) was calculated using ICDMAP-90 software, and the scores were stratified into the following categories: critical (>24), severe (15-24), moderate (9-14), and mild (<9). We then created an outcome variable, injury severity level, with five levels: killed; hospitalized with at least moderate injuries (ISS = critical, severe, or moderate); hospitalized with mild injuries (ISS = mild); injured according to the police report but not hospitalized; and no apparent injury according to the police report. We performed a stepwise, ordinal logistic regression of injury severity, using independent variables identified from the existing crash literature. RESULTS: Occupant risk factors for higher levels of injury severity selected by the regression were age (risk increased with age, other factors being equal), female gender, restraint non-use, ejection from the vehicle, and driver impairment (by alcohol and/or drugs). Crash risk factors included head-on collision, collision with a fixed object, vehicle rollover, and vehicle fire. Roadway/environmental factors were federal- or state-maintained roadway and posted speed limit 89 kph (55 mph) or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the identified risk factors are explicitly or implicitly mentioned in the strategic plans of key organizations involved in highway safety and injury prevention in Kentucky. Our analysis provides additional evidence of their importance, and confirms that their mitigation will reduce injury severity in crashes involving severe vehicle damage. Additionally, older occupants and female occupants showed increased risks of serious injury, but to our knowledge these factors are not currently addressed in any state plans. An opportunity exists to clarify the nature of these risks through further studies, which might lead to the identification of countermeasures specific to these populations.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1987

Accidents involving off-road motor vehicles in a northern community.

The increasing number of accidents associated with off-road motor vehicles used for recreational purposes prompted this prospective study. During 1985 the records of victims of all motor vehicle accidents who were seen at the Hudson Bay Union Hospital, Hudson Bay, Sask., were studied; patients involved in on-road vehicle accidents were included for comparison. Emphasis was placed on age, vehicle type, mechanism of accident, injury severity and the use of safety features. Almost half of the victims of off-road vehicle accidents were under 16 years of age. The poor adherence to government legislation and manufacturer recommendations was evident in the number of people who did not wear helmets or use headlights.

Accidents↗
PubMed1994

Motor vehicle crashes and seat belts: a study of emergency physician procedures, charges, and documentation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study emergency physician documentation of seat belt use, practice patterns, and charges for patients with different restraints involved in motor vehicle crashes. DESIGN: Retrospective examination of 2,239 emergency department records during a 5-month period. PARTICIPANTS: Patients from four community EDs and one Level I trauma center ED. RESULTS: Documentation of seat belt use for motor vehicle crash occupants was reported in 70% of the ED records reviewed. Only 64.5% of the records from the four community hospital EDs recorded seat belt use, compared with 81.7% of the records from the trauma center ED (P < .001). The unbelted group had a greater mean number of physician procedures performed (1.4 versus 1.2; P < .001) and more radiographs of the face and skull ordered (11.9% versus 8%, P < .01). Seat belt users had a higher average number of cervical-spine radiographs ordered than did nonusers (71.5 versus 65.7; P < .05). Physician charges for unbelted patients were higher compared with those for belted patients, averaging $22.00 more per patient (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Emergency physician practice patterns reflect the distribution of injuries associated with seat belt use and nonuse. Reduced physician charges for belted patients contributed to health care cost savings. Emergency physicians should be encouraged to consistently obtain and record whether an individual was wearing a seat belt during a motor vehicle crash.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2002

Use of out-of-hospital variables to predict severity of injury in pediatric patients involved in motor vehicle crashes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We sought to create a clinical decision rule, on the basis of variables available to out-of-hospital personnel, that could be used to accurately predict severe injury in pediatric patients involved in motor vehicle crashes as occupants. METHODS: We analyzed the National Automotive Sampling System database, a national probability sample, using pediatric patients up to 15 years old (occupants only) involved in motor vehicle crashes from January 1993 to December 1999. The National Automotive Sampling System database includes patients from regions throughout the country, weighted to represent a nationwide sample. Twelve out-of-hospital variables were used in classification and regression tree analysis to create a decision rule separating children with severe injuries (Injury Severity Score [ISS] > or =16) from those with minor injuries (ISS < 16). Misclassification costs and complexity parameters were selected to yield a decision tree with appropriate sensitivity and specificity for the identification of severely injured patients, while also being simple and practical for out-of-hospital use. Probability weights were used throughout the analysis to account for the sampling design and sampling weights. RESULTS: Using a sample size of 8,392 children, we constructed a decision rule using 3 out-of-hospital variables (Glasgow Coma Scale score, passenger space intrusion > or =6 in [> or =15 cm], and restraint use) to predict those patients with an ISS of 16 or more. Internal cross-validation was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity, yielding values of 92% and 73%, respectively, for the prediction of patients with an ISS of 16 or more. CONCLUSION: Out-of-hospital variables available to field personnel could be used to effectively triage pediatric motor vehicle crash patients using the decision rule developed here. Prospective trials would be needed to test this decision rule in actual use.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1992

Safety-belt use and motor-vehicle-related injuries--Navajo Nation, 1988-1991.

Injuries are the second leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaskan Natives; during 1986-1988, injuries accounted for 22% of all deaths (1). The risk for motor-vehicle-related injury deaths is nearly threefold higher among American Indians and Alaskan Natives than among the total U.S. population (age-adjusted death rates: 57.5 per 100,000 versus 19.5 per 100,000) (1-3). For residents of many rural, western, Indian reservations, age-adjusted motor-vehicle-related death rates are substantially higher; in particular, the rates for Navajos* are fivefold greater than for the total U.S. population (97.9 per 100,000 versus 19.5 per 100,000) (1) and almost three times the rate for all New Mexico residents (35.2 per 100,000) (4). To increase safety-belt use by front-seat occupants and thereby reduce motor-vehicle-related injuries, the Navajo Area Indian HealtH Service (IHS) Office of Environmental Health and Engineering, the Navajo Department of Highway Safety, and the Navajo Nation implemented a primary enforcement safety-belt use law and educational campaign. This report summarizes results of their effort.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

Public health focus: impact of safety-belt use on motor-vehicle injuries and costs--Iowa, 1987-1988.

Each year in the United States, motor-vehicle-related trauma results in approximately 40,000 deaths, 5.4 million nonfatal injuries, and $15.4 billion in direct medical costs and costs of emergency services. The use of safety belts reduces the number and severity of injuries from motor-vehicle crashes, and since states began enacting safety-belt laws, the prevalence of safety-belt use in the United States has increased substantially. In Iowa, where a safety-belt use law was enacted in 1986, the observed rate of safety-belt use increased from 18% in 1985 to 55% in 1988. Data from the Iowa Safety Restraint Assessment were used to estimate the effect of this increase on injury severity and hospital costs and to estimate the statewide savings in direct costs (i.e., hospital and professional fees) and indirect costs (i.e., administrative costs and loss of productivity) for 1 year. This report summarizes the findings of this study.

Accidents, Traffic↗