[Polytrauma in automobile drivers--on the coincidence of adolescents and the elderly]

In traffic severe accidents accompanied by polytraumata reach more and more importance to traumatology. We explored our own patients with regard to the coincidence of such accidents with juvenile and senior age and found out a very high risk in the age groups between 16 and 25 years. The causes could be little experience, readiness for risks and overrating their own talent. Elder persons driving motor vehicles are also very often involved in traffic accidents. In this group polytraumata however are not so frequent compared to many accidents without severe consequences. Polytraumatisized patients are very important as to the costs in the health and social system. In any case they cause a considerable economical loss.