Epidemiological Study of Road Traffic Accidents in Japan during 2010-2019

Abstract

The study aimed to determine epidemiological characteristics of road traffic accidents in Japan during the year 2010-2019. A cross-sectional descriptive study depended on a retrospective analysis of road traffic accident data that were obtained from the National Police Agency (NPA) for the years 2010 – 2019 in Japan. The relationship of road traffic accident consequences as dependent variables with age, road user type, helmet, and seatbelt use as independent variables during the studied years was analyzed with Chi-square test. The case fatality rate has been declining every year from 3.88 in 2010 to 2.54 per 100,000 persons. More than half of fatality cases have occurred among the elderly. There was a statistically significant relationship between road user type and accident severities. 36.21% fatality occurred in pedestrians. Otherwise, 27.61% of motor vehicle occupants were dominant in serious injury cases and 66.87% in slight injury cases. Most of the casualties revealed for fatality cases were in the head, whereas the leg part was dominant in serious injury cases and the neck region was raised in slight injuries. There was a significant relationship between the use of helmets and seat belt use with casualties of road traffic accidents. There was a declined trend of road traffic accidents in Japan during 10 years of study. The result of the epidemiological study could be a valid consideration for the design of road safety policy in the future.