Crash violence within the traffic system. Fatal accidents in built-up areas: overview of fatal accidents and in depth analysis of fatal pedestrian and bicycle accidents

This study deals with fatal traffic accidents in built-up areas in the years 2000-2005. The first stage of the study concerns all traffic fatalities in built-up areas and the classifying factors of them. At the same time, it was examined how the normal situations of using the traffic system differ from a definite conscious risk-taking. Based on the material from built-up areas.In average 88 persons have been killed annually. Motor vehicle occupants' deaths encompass 46%, pedestrians' deaths 31%, cyclists' deaths 21% and moped riders' deaths 2% of all fatalities. The most common accident types of the fatal motor vehicle accidents have been single accidents (61%) as well as intersection accidents (18%). 86 % of the fatal motor vehicle accidents involved conscious risk-taking. In single accidents, an acute illness attack was a risk factor in 30% of the cases, which is a remarkably high percentage. The second stage of the study was focused on pedestrians' and cyclists' fatal accidents. When the motor vehicle drivers' conscious risk behaviour as well as the individual smaller groups such as the moped riders' accidents were excluded, the research material consisted of 90 pedestrians' and 76 cyclists' fatalities, in which the other party involved was a motor vehicle. Two thirds of the pedestrian accidents happened in intersections. Zebra crossing - mostly without traffic lights- was the accident place of 63% of pedestrian' fatalities. 51% of the pedestrian accidents took place in daylight, 18% in twilight and 31% in darkness. 70% of the pedestrians were older than 60 years of age and 30 % where older than 80 years. About half of the young and middle-aged pedestrians were strongly under the influence of alcohol. Persons who were older than 85 years had commonly slightly abnormal function ability, including impairment of senses, slowness of movement, a number of different diseases and the general insufficiency of abilities. The number of elderly people's lethal injuries can not only be explained by a collision in a high speed and an impact onto car structures, but also by hitting the head onto the street. Bicycle accidents at intersections represent two thirds of bicyclists' fatalities. 59 % of all cyclists' traffic fatalities occurred on the zebra crossings, or on the bicycle paths extensions. 26 % of fatalities occurred in the middle of an intersection area. The passenger car drivers had generally had good circumstances and visibility, however, they had noticed a cyclist's intentions so late that they had not had time enough to halt the vehicle and avoid the collision. In many cases, the truck driver who was driving into the same direction as the cyclist did not see the cyclist when turning to the right. 64 % of the dead cyclists were older than 60 years of age and 13 % were older than 80 years of age. Skull injuries were the most significant causes of deaths in falling down or in the impacts onto a vehicle and also in ending under a heavy vehicle in which cases also the multi-traumas were highlighted. Wearing a cycling helmet was neglected in nearly all cases. This report may be foun at http://www.lintu.info/KOLKUTA.pdf