A Profile of Fatal Two Wheeler Accidents in North Karnataka

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are important causes of mortality and morbidity due to the increasing number of vehicles, changes in lifestyle and the risk behaviors among general population. With the aim of exploring various characteristics of fatal two wheeler RTAs, this retrospective analysis of medico-legal autopsies was conducted between January 2012 and December 2014 in a tertiary care hospital of north Karnataka. The information was collected from retrospective analysis of post-mortem registers and inquest documents received from the investigating officers. The collected information was analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Among the 100 autopsies conducted on fatal two wheeler accidental deaths during the study period. 85 were males and 15 were females. Majority of the male victims belonged to the age group 21–30 years. Bike riders (40) were the most common victims of two wheeler RTAs. The head injuries were responsible for more than half of deaths. Majority of victims died on the spot of accident. Based on results of our study we conclude that fatal two wheeler RTAs are important public health hazards and should be addressed through strengthening of emergency healthcare, stricter enforcement of traffic laws and public awareness.