Citation

Waldtraut C. J. Occup. Accid. 1982; 4(2-4): 225-231.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Number and frequency of accidents show aggravating effects as well on morbidity as on mortality. In particular road accidents stand in the centre of interest because they are avoidable on principle. Concerning the demographic and economic losses for society due to accidental mortality this position follows: 1. -- by frequency of deaths rank 4,2. -- by loss of living years rank 3,3. -- by loss of working years rank 2.Concerning the loss of working years road accidents hold the first place in comparison to other chapters for males up to 35 years and for females up to 30 years. In the GDR prevention of accidents is a task of the whole society. The Highway Code, by law, imposes the duty of applying safety belts on drivers of passenger cars, of carrying crash helmets on motor-cyclists and on drivers of all motor-vehicles the general abstaining from drinking alcohol. The highest speed amounts to 80 on trunk roads. The introduction of the Highway Code in 1978 has been accompanied by intensive training of all road users. All these measures and consequent controlling caused a marked regression of number and frequency of the injured and killed due to road accidents.