Declining statewide trends in motor vehicle crashes and injury-related hospital admissions

Numbers of crashes, rates of police-reported injury severity, and hospital admission rates were calculated for the ten year period between 2001 and 2010 in Maryland. Comparisons were made for two 5-year periods of 2001-2005 and 2006-2010. Crash characteristics remained similar for the two five-year periods, but there was a significant increase in occupant age. Declines in police-reported injury severity were noted for each of four age groups: 16-29, 30-54, 55-64, and 65+, with smaller declines among older occupants. In addition, there were significant declines in hospital admissions, comparing the two time periods. Although reductions in crashes may be attributable to various roadway, behavioral, and other safety improvement efforts, reductions in hospital admission rates most likely reflect major improvements in crashworthiness implemented during the past decade. For those admitted to hospitals, significant increases in injury severity were noted between the first and second time periods. There was an association between age and ISS, a measure of total bodily injury, with the highest ISS scores noted for the youngest and oldest groups (16-29 and 55+, respectively). In addition, there was a significant increase in the mean age over time, from 39 in 2001 to 43 in 2010, p<.001. In general, the incidence and severity of injuries increased for all body regions. There was also a significant increase in hospital mortality, although length of hospital stay remained the same. Given these trends, increased efforts need to focus on both injury prevention and treatment for the increasing population of older, sometimes frail, vehicle occupants.