Data needs for research in road trauma

This paper laments the existence of widespread "instant" expertise on road trauma; postulates the need for multidisciplinary epidemiological research teams to produce a more scientific approach to this problem, based on authoritative information and analysis; and suggests that any such teams will require accessible, comprehensive, compatible data. The paper describes some problems of existing data collections associated with the source of the data, the lack of compatibility and comprehensiveness, and the absence of data on exposure and on severity of injury. It is suggested that, in the context of these deficiencies, extensive development of new data is unrealistic. Instead, the paper concludes by recommending gradual expansion of currently available data on a national basis, under the control of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It is suggested that Section 51 of the Constitution provides the necessary head of power for this development.