Abstract
Introduction. Road traffic injuries constitute a major public
health issue. The Province of Grosseto is one of the territories
most affected in the Region of Tuscany. The objective of the
study, part of the Road Safety Provincial Council?s project, is to
describe the epidemiology of the road accidents in order to contribute
to the reduction of the burden of deaths and injuries.
Methods. The data relative to road accidents occurring in the Province
were drawn from the various sources available: Death Certificates
(1991-2005), Police Reports (1991-2003), Hospital Discharge
Records (1996-2005), Emergency Room visits (2004-2005).
Results. On average, each year road accidents cause 30 deaths,
at least 530 hospitalizations, and approximately 3,300 Emergency
Room visits. The standardized mortality rate (2003-2005, males:
20.6; females: 6.0), the mortality ratio (2003: 34.6 deaths for every
1,000 accidents), and the severity ratio (2003: 1,432 injured for
every 1,000 accidents) are higher than regional figures.
Discussion. The greater relative number of fatalities, casualties
and crashes can be explained by various physical and
social environmental factors such as vast flatland, few greater
urban settlements, deprived area. The territory specifically
demonstrates an accentuated seasonality in August, a month in
which a peak in both the number of accidents and their severity
is reported, brought about by the intense volume of commuter
and transit traffic, and highlighted by the fact that in that same
month approximately half of Emergency Room visits concern
non-residents.
Conclusion. The complexity of the issue, the number of determinant
factors involved, and the disproportionately greater
impact on the more disadvantaged and vulnerable segments of
society require the development of inter-sectoral strategies and
the sharing of responsibility among individuals, groups and
communities.