03May 2019

PROFILE OF VICTIMS AND OFFENDING VEHICLES IN FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN WESTERN MAHARASHTRA - AN AUTOPSY STUDY.

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040 (Mahahrashtra)India.
  • Dept of Forensic Medicine &Toxicology,Armed Forces Medical College, Pune (Mahahrashtra) India.
Crossref Cited-by Linking logo
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • References
  • Cite This Article as
  • Corresponding Author

Background: Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in young and productive age group of society. The pedestrian deaths and two wheeler rider and pillion deaths are a cause of rising concern in urban centres. The paper brings forward the profile of victims who suffered fatal road traffic accident deaths and the offending vehicles which were the causation agents. Aims and Objectives:To study the profile of victims of fatal road traffic accident cases and the offending vehicles and its relationship to various related factors. Results: The study was done to study the profile of victims of road traffic accident fatalities in Western Maharashtra. The study was done for period of 18 months involving 120 cases. All the 120 autopsy cases involved in research were studied with the profile of victims and the offending vehicle. The study shows that that maximum number of fatal victims of road traffic accidents were pedestrians (n = 44, 36.67 %). Two wheeler riders were second (n = 31, 25.83 %), two wheeler pillion riders were third in number (n = 10, 8.33 %). Amongst pedestrians, heavy vehicles (truck and bus) caused 43.1 %of the casualties. Light vehicles (jeep, car, tractor, tempo and auto rickshaw) caused 54.6 % of the casualties and the least casualties were by motor cycles (2.3 %). Maximum fatalities were caused by Heavy vehicles (Trucks n = 48, 40 % and Buses n = 19, 15. 83 %). Light vehicles responsible were Tempo (n = 14, 11.67 %), Tractor and Jeep each (n = 5, 4.17 %), Auto Rickshaw (n = 8, 6.67 %) and Car (n = 9, 7.5 %).Other vehicles were Two Wheeler (n = 11, 9.17 %), Pedal Cyclist and Unknown vehicle were one each. Conclusion: It may be said that pedestrians and two wheeler riders are most vulnerable to RTAs and necessary preventive measures need to be undertaken to control the epidemic.


  1. Jha N, Srinivasa D K, Roy G, Jagdish S .Epidemiological study of Road Traffic Accidents cases: A study from South India. Indian Journal of Community Medicine. Jan.-Mar., 2004; 29(1).
  2. Charlton R and Smith G. How to Reduce the Toll of Road Traffic Accidents. J R Social Med. Oct 2003; 96 (10): 475 ? 76.
  3. Reed C. On the Road with Death. Harvard Public Health Review.
  4. Accidental Deaths in India. Incidence and Rate of Accidental Deaths during the Decade. NCRB, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi
  5. Kaul A, Sinha U S, Kapoor A K, Pathak Y K, Sharma S, Singh A, Singh S. An Epidemiogical Study of Fatal Road Traffic Accidents in Allahabad Region.. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 2005; 3(1).
  6. Sevitt S. Fatal Road Accidents Injuries, complications and Causes of Deaths in 250 Subjects. British Journal of Surgery. July 1968; 55(7): 481- 505.
  7. Singh Y N, Bairagi K K, Das K C. An Epidemiological Study of Road Traffic Accident Victims in Medico legal Autopsies .Journal of Indian Association of Forensic Medicine. 2005; 27; 971-73.
  8. Singh H, .Dhattarwal S K. Pattern and Distribution of Injuries in Fatal Road Traffic injuries in Rohtak (Haryana). Journal of Indian Association of Forensic Medicine. 2004; 26 (1)971 -73
  9. Singh H, Dhattarwal S K, Mittal S,Aggarwal A. A Review of Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities. Journal of Indian Association of Forensic Medicine. 2007,29(4):971-73
  10. Teanby D N, Lloyd D A, Gorman D F, Boot D A. Regional review of Blunt Trauma in Children. British Journal of Surgery. 1994; 81: 53 -55.
  11. Newman R J, Jones I S. A prospective study of 413 Consecutive Car Occupants with Chest injuries.Journal of Trauma. Feb 1984; 24 (2):129 ? 135.
  12. Lowe D K , Gately H G, Goss J R, Frey Cecilia L, Peterson C G. Patterns of Death, Complication and Error in the Management of Motor Vehicle Accident Victims : Implications for a Regional System of Trauma Care . Journal of Trauma June 1983; 23(6): 503 -09.
  13. Sood S. Survey of Factors Influencing Injury among Riders involved in Motorized Two Wheeler Accidents in India: A prospective study of 302 cases. Journal of Trauma. Apr 1988; 28(4): 530 ? 36.
  14. Appelby J P, Nagy A G. Abdominal Injuries Associated With the Use of Seat Belts. American Journal of Surgery. May 1989; 157:457-58.
  15. Millo T, Sharma RK, Murty OP, Bhardwaj DN, Murmu LR, Aggarwal P Study of incidence of alcohol use in road traffic accidents in South Delhi in fatal casesIndian Journal of Forensic Medicine &Toxicolog 2, No. 1 (2008-01-06).

[Rashid Nehal Khan, K V Radhakrishna and Ravi Rautji. (2019); PROFILE OF VICTIMS AND OFFENDING VEHICLES IN FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN WESTERN MAHARASHTRA - AN AUTOPSY STUDY. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 7 (May). 138-142] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Dr Rashid Nehal Khan
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, AFMC Pune, Maharashtra

DOI:


Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/9012      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/9012