Road Traffic Injury Cost Estimation by Willingness to Pay Method

Backgrounds and Road traffic injury cost should be calculated continuously connecting benefit to public resource allocation. Study aimed determine the cost of traffic injuries by willingness to pay method using weibull analysis. In a cross sectional study in 2013، the portions of pedestrians، motorcyclists، passengers، and drivers were 28%، 23%، 26%، and 23%، respectively، based on global report for Iran 2013. 846 road users were randomly selected. The research questionnaire was prepared considering WTP method standard: Contingent value، stated preference، revealved preference and perceived risks، especially in Iran، and its validity and reliability was determined. The questionnaire was collected along with four scenarios for passengers، pedestrians، drivers، and motorcyclists. Mean age of the subjects was 33. 4±9. 9 years old. Mean willingness to pay was 2،612،050 IRR among these road users. For total death cases in 2013، according to 20408 death cases، 402،314،106،073،648 IRR was calculated (equivalent to 13،410،470،202 $). Injury cost was 2،412،582،500 IRR per injury (considering annual traffic volume 113،518) and 318،802 injured people in 2013، this rate was 769،136،126،165،000 IRR (25،637،870،872 $.) In sum، death and injury cases amounted to 1،171،450،232،238،648 IRR (39،048،341،074$). Moreover in 2013، costs of traffic accident constituted 6. 46% of gross national income، which was 604،300،000،000$ based on world bank report. Costs of traffic injuries in Iran contribute significant portion of gross national income. If policy making and resource allocation are made based on the scientific pieces of evidence، an enormous amount of capital can be saved through reducing death and injury rates.