| With the development of motorization in cities, road traffic injuries (RTI) have been increasing rapidly since 1990s. In China, the number of automobiles is only 2% of that of the whole world, however, deaths of RTI per year cover 10% of the whole world. Deaths and mortality rates of RTI in China both rank first globally. It has become the major cause of deaths of male and urban residents, and its total loss surpasses all other damages. Years of potential life lost (YPLL) of RTI ranks first among all kinds of death causes and much higher than those of malignant tumors and coronary diseases. The economy of Ningbo has been increasing rapidly in recent years, and the motorization degree is higher than most districts of the nation, but RTI studies conducted in Ningbo is absent. For this reason, how to use modern technological methods to decrease RTI should become one of the work focuses of the government, and disease prevention and control organizations. Applying methods of epidemiological investigations to explore disciplines and possible causes of RTI is able to provide important evidence for its prevention and control.Based on RTI data of 11 districts in Ningbo, the study is to investigate the current status, distribution characteristics, main causes and disease economic loss of RTI, then to provide feasible suggestions for its prevention and control in Nongbo.Materials and MethodsSubjects were offenders and victims of all RTI that had been registered into Road Traffic Accident Database of Ningbo according to "Road Traffic Safety Law of People's Republic China" and took place during Jan. 1999 to Jun. 2005. The investigation contents included the social and economic status of Ningbo, population, time and spot distributions of RTI, data of offenders and victims, and the status of economic loss.The data were input into the computer by professionals. After using Excel software to establish a database, the data were analyzed by SPSS 11.0. The process of the data analysis included three parts: the first part was a descriptive study of features of population, time and spot distributions of RTI from Jan. 1999 to Jun. 2005;the second part was to determine possible causes of RTI, of which goal was to study relationships beween RTI and relative factors by comparing diference among various categories of indexes;the third part estimated the disease burden of RIT, including direct economic loss, years of YPLL, disease economic burden. The main statistical methods included chi square test, sum . test > circular distribution analysis, one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.ResultsThere were altogether 50232 RTI in Ningbo from Jan. 1999 to Jun. 2005, resulting in 5498 people's deaths and 28218 people's injuries, and the direct economic loss was 27041 million RMB. The level of personal safety (LPS) was between from 12.18 and 18.90 per 1 million persons, on average 15.68 per 1 million persons, with an increase trend of 7.6% each year(?trend=0.002). The level of traffic safety (LTS) ranged from 11.18 to 15.84 per 0.1 million cars, on average 13.62 per 0.1 million cars, with a decrease trend of 5.5% each year (Ptrend =0.087). The motorization degree increased by10.87% each year(Ptrend <0.001), and the ratio of deaths to injuries and male to female were 5.13 : 1 and 2.22 : 1 respectively,,By means of circular distribution analysis, it was found that the occurrence time of RIT presents a central tendency. RTI mainly took place in the later part of a year(z happen=7.24, z injUre-235.9(k z death= 15.72, P<0.05), and in the rush hours of a day(z happen =4453.8(K z injure=2113.22, z death=274.80, P<0.05). By comparing the status of population distribution, offenders and victims mostly aged between 20 and 45 years, However, RTI deaths over 65 years old equaled to that between 31 and 35 years old.The Individual drivers were the main offenders, and the deaths of RTI were mainly male (Uoffender =0, Poffender =0.002;Uvixtim==2, PVixtim=0.004), but female mortality was much higher than maleOr 2>40,P<0.001). Mortality coefficient (MC) and LPS were relatively high in Beilun and Zhenhai, and relatively low in Haishu, Jiangdo and Xiangshan;The LTS was relatively high in Ninghai, Beilun, and low in Haishu and Jiangdo. The mortality rates of each district had a increasing trend yearly, but there were significant difference among these districts, which was comparably high in Yuyao and Cixi.For possible causes of RTI, it was showed that drivers not giving way and shortage of portrait distance covered a percentage of 45.5% among all RTI causes.RTI caused by peccant loading, drving after drinking, driving with fatigue, and overspeeding were infrequent, but mortality rates caused by these reasons were significantly higher than other causes (% 2=512.95, P<0.001). For the non-auto drivers, the leading causes of RTI were snatching lanes, fierce turning suddenly and crossing motor vehicle lane illicitly. For walkers, the main causes were crossing motor vehicle lane illicitly, which resulted in 43.81% of deaths, and hurdling bars caused 50.0% of deaths that ranked first among all causes though its number was relatively few. For factors related with vehicles, the most familiar cause was tyre exploding, covering 48.4% of the occurrence of RTI, and mini-vehicles were the main type of automobiles causing RTI, covering a percentage of 55.7%. As for the traffic environment, RTI were more likely to happen in the conditions where road condition was good and when the weath was well. The partial correlation study showed that the death number of RTI positively correlatedwith GDP and numbers of automobiles and population.The YPLL > working years of potential life lost ( WYPLL ).. valued years of potential life lost ( VYPLL) caused by RTI in Ningbo increased yearly(Ptrend<0.05), on average 33 -. 27 ^ 23years per person respectively. YPLL > WYPLL> VYPLL of the population aged between 21 and 50 all covered over 70% of those of the whole research population. The direct economic lose of RTI had a yearly decreasing trend (^trend=0.018), but disease economic burden increased yearly (Ptrend-0.002), which was 8.9 times as much as the direct economic loss.ConclusionsThe cross-sectional survey reveals the epidemiological characteristics, possible causes and disease burden of RTI.With the development of motorization, the number of RTI increases yearly. Its time and spot distributions shows RTI occurrence is related with economic activities. Concretely, RTI is more likely to take place where and when economic activities are more active. As far as population distribution is concerned, RTI has a close relationship with occupational and mental characteristics. Population with one of the characteristics of male, aging between 20 and 45, driving less than 5 years and individual drivers is more likely to suffer RTI. The ages of victims are mostly over 65 or between 31 and 35. Male deaths are more than females, but female mortality is higher than male ones.Factors related with persons have the closest relationship with RTI, especially for drivers' awareness of safety. The most familiar causes are giving way illicitly and shortage of portrait distance, while the most dangerous causes are snatching lanes, fierce turning suddenly and crossing motor vehicle lane illicitly. Among walkers, the most familiar cause of RTI is crossing motor vehicle lane illicitly, the most dangerous cause is hurdling bars. Factors related with vehicles covers a minor part of RTI.For environmental facors, RTI is more likely to take place where the condition of road surface is good and when the weather is well.In a conclusion, prevention and control of RTI should be focused on education and management of safety awareness of all the participants in traffic activities and the improvement of technologies of vehicles and roads.
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