Comparison of Risk Factors for Pedestrian Fatality in Urban and Suburban Traffic Accidents

Abstract

Background: The burden of traffic accidents on pedestrians is very high in Iran. Since the pattern of injury is different in urban and suburban<br /> accidents, this study was conducted to identify the risk factors associated with pedestrian mortality in urban and suburban traffic accidents in<br /> Tehran and Alborz Provinces. Materials and Methods: The data of all traffic accidents related to pedestrians in Tehran and Alborz Provinces<br /> were investigated from two databases of traffic police and forensic medicine. The effects of demographic variables (age and gender) and<br /> pedestrian position, time, accident location, and vehicle type on the outcome of pedestrian death were investigated. Multiple logistic regression<br /> was used to analyze the data. The significance level was considered Results: From a total of 10742 pedestrians, 6804 males (63.3%) and 3938 females (36.7%) were studied in traffic accidents. In urban accidents,<br /> the effects of pedestrian age such as 35–64 years and >65 years compared to 15–24 years (odds ratio [OR]: 2.04, confidence interval [CI]:<br /> 1.26–3.3), (OR: 4.8, CI: 2.9–7.9), male gender (OR: 2.26, CI: 1.6–3.1), lighting condition at night compared to day (OR: 1.6, CI: 1.2–2.1),<br /> two‑way not divided road versus one‑way road (OR: 1.6, CI: 1.12–2.3), the status of day after holidays compared to normal days (OR: 1.53,<br /> CI: 1.09–2.14), type of vehicle such as heavy or semi‑heavy and conventional or pickup versus motorcycles or bicycles (OR: 5.4, CI: 3.1–8.9)<br /> and (OR: 1.8, CI: 1.2–2.7) and pedestrian position at crossing the road from an unauthorized route compared to crossing the road from the<br /> authorized route (OR: 1.94, CI: 1.4–2.6) were significant on the fatality. Whereas in suburban accidents, there was a statistically significant<br /> correlation with pedestrian fatality only in two‑way divided road compared to one‑way (OR: 0.2, CI: 0.05–0.77). Conclusion: The present<br /> study showed that risk factors for pedestrian mortality are different in urban and suburban traffic accidents. It is necessary to take appropriate<br /> measures in urban and suburban areas to reduce the severity of injuries in pedestrians.