Mortality trends by run-over accidents and traffic collisions in Argentina between 2000-2002 and 2009-2011

Abstract

Road mortality was analyzed with the aim to measure the impact that deaths by run-over accidents and traffic collisions had on Argentineans' life expectancy, comparing the 2000-2002 and the 2009-2011 triennia. The index of lost years of life expectancy was used, which made it possible to establish the number of years that people would have lived if they had not died in accidents, either as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists or occupants of motor vehicles. Information of population by sex and age were obtained from the two past national population censuses of 2001 and 2010. Information on causes of death, by sex and age of the deceased were obtained from Argentina's Statistical Office and Health Information (DEIS). The main results indicate that in 2000-2002 period, the Argentine population lost 0.59 years (seven months) of life expectancy – from birth to the age of 80 – as a consequence of deaths on the roads, while this number suffered a loss of 0.66 years (eight months) for the 2009-2011 period.

Keywords
Collisions; Traffic; Run-over accidents; Life expectancy; Mortality