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An emergency room material covering 13 years (1980-92) was analyzed to see whether occupational accidents in road traffic had been following special patterns revealing possibilities for prevention. Of 41,332 traffic accident victims, every year 2.3-4.2% had sustained their injuries during working hours. Males were overrepresented, the male to female sex ratio was 2.9 for occupational accidents, 1.6 for non-occupational accidents. The age group 15-19 years accounted for a relatively large share of both occupational and non-occupational accidents. There were no differences according to body distribution of injuries, severity or need for treatment between occupational and non-occupational accidents. In occupational accidents more automobiles but fewer bicycles and motorbikes were involved. No type of accident showed increasing tendency throughout the period. It is concluded, that occupational road traffic accidents do not seem to follow special patterns, and the proportion is not increasing. Although the younger age groups were overrepresented, the limited material does not give grounds for elevating the age limit for occupational car driving, as for extent of exposure in the single age groups is not known.

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of self reported alcohol influence in injured bicyclists. The study was based upon a combination of data from a questionnaire and recordings from the emergency room. Eighteen percent of cyclists 15 years of age or older treated at the emergency room reported themselves influenced by alcohol at the time of accident. The highest injury rate in patients riding under influence was found in the age group 20-29 years, and the proportion of injured cyclists riding under influence was four times higher in males than in females. The lesions sustained by alcohol influenced bicyclists were not more severe than those of the not influenced injured bicyclists.

In Denmark, official statistics concerning road traffic accidents are based upon police recordings. In this study, these official data are compared to data from the emergency room at Odense University Hospital from the period 1980 to 1992. The purpose is to examine whether the official statistics show a reliable picture of the development in accident numbers compared to data from the emergency room. The results confirm that it is necessary to use data from the emergency room to describe the true development in numbers of bicycle accidents.

A series of fatal motorcycle accidents from a 7-year period (1977-1983) has been analyzed. Of the fatalities 30 were operators of the motorcycle, 11 pillion passengers and 8 counterparts. Of 41 operators 37% were sober at the time of accident, 66% had measurable blood alcohol concentration (BAC); 59% above 0.08%. In all cases where a pillion passenger was killed, the operator of the motorcycle had a BAC greater than 0.08%. Of the killed counterparts 2 were non-intoxicated, 2 had a BAC greater than 0.08%, and 4 were not tested. The results advocate that the law should restrict alcohol consumption by pillion passengers as well as by the motorcycle operator. Suggestions made to extend the data base needed for developing appropriate alcohol countermeasures by collecting sociodemographic data on drivers killed or seriously injured should be supported.

Only 19% of the 3,071 injured persons who were treated in the casualty department of Odense Hospital following traffic accidents in 1987 could be found again in the police registers of traffic accidents from the same region. All of the registrations from the police registers from the central region could be found again in the casualty department. In 1971, the corresponding coverage was 36%. The degree of coverage is particularly low for single bicycle accidents, other bicycle accidents, other single accidents and the hours immediately after midnight. Considerable disagreement exists concerning registration of the use of safety belts and crash helmets. In Odense, the municipal road authorities utilize the localization of the accidents reported by the casualty department. The decrease in the degree of coverage is due mainly to an increasing proportion of bicycle accidents. Where casualties require admission to hospital, the coverage is approximately 75%. This has remained unchanged throughout the years and it is therefore suggested that this proportion should be employed as indicator of the effect of the majority of prophylactic measures. In addition, proposals are made for simplification of the police registration forms.

A study of motorcycle fatalities in the period 1977-1983 in the county of Funen, Denmark was compared with an analysis of data obtained from the Accident Register at the Odense University Hospital. Among the operators killed one fifth were illegally operating the motorcycle. A remarkable statistical difference in distribution of accidents involved motorcycles and the total distribution of motorcycles in the county was reported, thus finding an over-representation of heavy motorcycles in the present study. No important differences were found in the distribution of type of accidents compared to other studies. In the present study all but one victim were tested for blood-alcohol concentration (BAC). The results differ from previous studies in as much as 50% of the killed operators of an accident involving motorcycles had a BAC above 0.08%. The reported distribution by age, licensing experience and size of motorcycle in fatal motorcycle accidents seem to support introduction of a graduated licence depending on motorcycle size as well as operator age. Furthermore a limitation in the right to carry a pillion passenger should be considered, and the operator of the motorcycle carrying a pillion passenger should be held responsible for the passenger wearing a helmet.