| Authors: | Fridulv Sagberg, Terje Assum |
| Report nr: | 499/2000 |
| ISBN: | 82-480-0174-1 |
| Language: | Norwegian |
| Attachments | Summary Sammendrag |
In-depth studies of 196 fatal accidents in 1997-99 were investigated with the purpose of analysing factors possibly contributing to the severity of the accidents. For 20 % of the 225 fatalities post mortem examinations revealed alcohol, drugs and/or medicines, which may have influenced the road users during the accident. Less than two-thirds of the killed car occupants were belted, and 40 % of the unbelted persons were intoxicated. Fifty-three out of 165 killed car occupants died in single-vehicle accidents, collision with a tree being the most frequent accident type. For cyclists head injury was the most frequent cause of death, and very few cyclists wore a helmet. Pedestrian accidents happened largely near pedestrian crossings and/or in darkness. The analyses were partly limited by certain shortcomings of the data, and possible improvements are discussed.
