Profile of Road Traffic Fatalities in Adults A 40 Year Study in Chandigarh Zone of North West India

Road Traffic Accidents are one of the leading causes of morbidity & mortality in the world. The present study was based on the autopsy records of unnatural deaths occurred in a leading tertiary health care center of North West India. The adult road traffic fatalities constituted 41% of all unnatural deaths with male preponderance (89.6%) throughout the study period. People in the age group 21–30 years (32%) particularly from rural areas (57%) were most affected. The pedestrians and two wheeler users formed the majority of fatalities (78%). Collision between two wheeler and light motor vehicle was the most common crash pattern and injury to head & neck region was the most common cause of death. Maximum number of accidents occurred between 4pm to 8pm (28%) and in the month of November (11%). Unskilled workers, agricultural workers and government employees constituted a larger proportion of fatalities (45%).