Falls from moving motor vehicles in New Zealand

Injuries due to falls from moving motor vehicles have received relatively little attention from the research community. Injury events of this type in New Zealand were examined using national injury mortality and hospitalisation data from the New Zealand National Health Statistics Centre (NHSC). Also used were data obtained from the New Zealand Post Motor Registration Centre and from coroner's investigation reports held by the Department of Justice. Fifty-six fatal falls from moving motor vehicles occurred during the period 1977-1986 (0.18 per 100,000 population per year). The average age of fatalities was 23. The total potential years of life lost due to these fatalities was 2,696, or an average of 48 years per person. Thirty-nine persons (70%) fell while riding on the exterior of a vehicle. None of the 56 fatalities was using a belt restraint when he/she fell. Four hundred and twenty-three admissions to hospital occurred during 1986 and 1987 (6.5 per 100,000 persons per year). The average age of those hospitalised was 18. Incidence rates were highest in the 0-4, 15-19, and 20-24 year age groups. In the case of both deaths and hospitalisations, the incidence rate for males was approximately double the rate for females. In addition, the rate of falls (per unit registered motor vehicle) from trucks was significantly higher than the rate of falls from cars. Means of preventing falls from motor vehicles are discussed.