Port Moresby road traffic accident survey

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Trauma Surgery
• Road Safety Engineering

Background:

• Road traffic accidents (RTAs) represent a significant public health concern in Papua New Guinea, contributing to considerable morbidity and mortality.
• Previous research indicates a need to understand specific injury patterns and risk factors associated with RTAs within the local context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the types of vehicles and seating positions most frequently associated with injuries from RTAs.
• To assess the prevalence of seat-belt usage among vehicle occupants involved in RTAs.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for legislative changes to enhance road safety.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective survey of 209 patients admitted to Port Moresby General Hospital for RTA-related injuries over a seven-month period (November 1982 to June 1983).
• Data collection included vehicle type, occupant seating position, and seat-belt usage.
• Analysis focused on identifying high-risk vehicle types and seating positions.

Main Results:

• One-third of RTA casualties were occupants of cars, and one-quarter were occupants of utilities.
• The most dangerous positions were the open back of utilities/trucks and the front seats of cars/utilities.
• Only 13% of injured front-seat occupants reported wearing seat belts, with one-third of vehicles lacking fitted seat belts.

Conclusions:

• Urgent legislative action is required to mandate safety measures for passengers in open utility/truck backs.
• Legislation for the mandatory fitting and wearing of seat belts for front-seat occupants is crucial to mitigate RTA-related injuries and fatalities.