Risk factors of road traffic injuries on Mashhad Roads in 2007

Nowadays, accidents are the second leading cause of deaths in some Societies, and traffic accidents account a great proportion of them. The ongiong report is aimed to determine some accident effecting factors that cause wounds and casualties on the roads ending in Mashhad. This is a case-controle study. Drivers involved in car accidents on the roads ending in Mashhad and having physical injuries were the cases, and those with no injury were the controles. Variables of driver’s age and sex, fastening seat belt, burn, being trapped, and being thrown out of the car, use of music, cell phone and cigarette on accidend time, and also direction of strike, time of accident, smoking, and car modernity were assessed and comparised between the two groups. 90% and 93% of the cases and the controle groups agreed or were able to interview. 16.2% of cases and 23.4% of controles were female and the distribution of male among the cases and the controles were 83.8% and 76.6% respectively (p> 0.05). The average age of the cases and controles were 35.3 ± 10.5 and 39.4 ± 9.8 years respectively (p<0.001). Use of seat belt was a protective measure and significantly higher in controles (OR = 0.44). Burn on accident time was 21% among cases and 1.3% in controles (p<0.001). Being trapped in and/or thrown out of the car on accident time were significantly more in the cases (p<0.002). Coclusion: Fastening seat belt can minimize the effects of car accidents and prevent wounds and casualties. Driver’s low age can be an important risk factor on road accidents that can be minimized through proper media teachings.