Actual Condition and Factors of Traffic Accidents Resulting in Injury or Death of Drivers in Japan -A Cross Sectional Study-

Abstract

To evaluate the actual condition of the traffic accidents resulting in injury or death of drivers and to assess the factors relating to them in Japan, the data concerning traffic accidents in 47 prefectures in Japan were surveyed and analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results obtained were as follows. 1) In general, the numbers of traffic accidents resulting in injury or death of drivers/100, 000 persons having driver's licence and the ratio of traffic accident resulting in death of drivers to those resulting in injury and death of drivers in Great Tokyo were the lowest in Japan. 2) The numbers of traffic accidents resulting in injury and death of drivers/100, 000 persons having driver's license in each prefecture had significant positive relation to the total length of national highway and also to the proportion of workers in the secondary industries in males, and to the number of cars retained/total number of persons having driver's license in females. 3) The numbers of traffic accidents resulting in death of drivers/100, 000 persons having driver's license in each prefecture had significant positive relation to the total length of national highway and negative relation to the percentages of drivers with a seat-belt in persons driving a car and the population density in males . In females, they had significant postive relation to the number of cars retained/total number of persons having driver's licence. 4) The ratio of traffic accidents resulting in death of drivers to those resulting in injury and death of drivers had no relation to any considered factors in males or females.