Abstract

LEONARD J, Paulozzi; GEORGE W, Ryan; ESPITIA-HARDEMAN, Victoria E  and  YONGLI, Xi. EFFECT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE FATALITY RATE FROM MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AMONG VARIOUS TYPES OF USERS OF PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES: AN INTERNATIONAL CROSS STUDY. Investig. andina [online]. 2007, vol.9, n.15, pp.15-37. ISSN 0124-8146.

Introduction: The relationship between a country's economic development and its fatality rate from motor vehicle accidents (MVA) has not been studied according to the different types of users of public thoroughfares. Methodology: This article presents a cross analysis of recent mortality data from 44 countries through the use of information found in the death certifications supplied by the World Health Organization. Results: For five types of users of public roadways the mortality rate by MVA is presented as deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and deaths per 1000 motor vehicles. Economic development is measured by the per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in US dollars and the number of motor vehicles per 1000 inhabitants. The results showed that the total mortality rate by MVA in low income countries reached a peak at a GDP of around US $2000 per capita and around 100 motor vehicles per 1000 inhabitants. Conclusions: The overall mortality rate diminished with the increase of national income at around US $24,000. The majority of the changes in fatality by MVA in association with economic development were explained by changes in the number of nonmotorized users of public ways, especially pedestrians. The total number of MVA was reduced when the exposure of pedestrians to motorized traffic was lower either because there were fewer motor vehicles or because there were fewer pedestrians. The rate was higher during critical periods of transition towards more motorized transportation when many pedestrians and other non-motorized users of public thoroughfares were competing for space with increased numbers of motorized vehicles.

Keywords : Transit accidents; fatalities; economic development.

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