Death resulting from motor vehicle immersions: The nature of the injuries, personal and environmental contributing factors, and potential interventions

G.J. Wintemute, J.F. Kraus, S.P. Teret and M.A. Wright

American Journal of Public Health, 1990, vol. 80, issue 9, 1068-1070

Abstract: We present an epidemiologic characterization of deaths from motor vehicle immersions, based on 77 deaths in 63 motor vehicle immersions in Sacramento County, CA, during 1974-85. All persons were autopsied; all but one of the deaths were due to drowning. Average annual mortality rates per million persons year were 12 for males, four for females, 30 for Hispanics, six for White non-Hispanics, Blacks and Asians. Seventy-one percent of drivers and 60 percent of passengers had a blood alcohol concentration ≥ 22 mmol/L. Most cases (57 percent) had an Injury Severity Score of 1 (minor injury) or 0 (no injury). Alcohol use was associated with higher Injury Severity Scores. Road curvature of 20° or greater was far more common at crash sites than at matched control sites one mile away (OR = 6.57, 95% CI = 2.93, 14.71). Guard rail placement along highly curved sections of roadway may be an effective preventive measure.

Date: 1990
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1990:80:9:1068-1070_8

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().