MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS: CHARACTERISTICS AND SUSPECTED ALCOHOL USE

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of motorcycle accidents and suspected alcohol use. Descriptive and cross-sectional study with 110 patients involved in motorcycle accidents assisted at an emergency hospital in a large city (state capital) in Northeastern Brazil. Data was collected in November-December 2016 and analyzed through descriptive statistics and inferential tests. Significant associations were found between alcohol consumption and injury severity, licensed or unlicensed drivers, time of the accident (night or day) and helmet use. Most victims of motorcycle accidents were not using a helmet and had consumed alcoholic beverages. The findings call attention to the need for a direct, effective and sustainable traffic crash surveillance system by the responsible bodies, given the lack of effective preventive measures.

Keywords

• Traffic accidents
• Motorcycles
• External causes
• Wounds and injuries
• Accident prevention