Almost 80% of serious traffic victims are pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists, says research

Data from the Ministry of Health show that more than 260 thousand hospital admissions were registered last year in the public network due to traffic accidents. The survey by the Brazilian Association of Traffic Medicine (Abramet) shows that 76% of these cases involved pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Since 2014, more than 2.2 million consultations have been provided in the Unified Health System (SUS) to treat people involved in serious traffic accidents. And, over the years, cases with the most exposed group on the streets have increased:

  • Pedestrians: despite an initial drop until 2020, hospitalizations began to grow again, peaking at 39,125 in 2023.
  • Cyclists: steady growth over the last decade, from 9,238 in 2014 to 15,573 in 2023.
  • Motorcyclists: continuous increase throughout the series and the most affected group. In 2023 alone, there were more than 141.7 thousand hospitalizations.

“The data highlights the urgency of preventive measures focused on education and traffic infrastructure that especially protect these most exposed users”, considers the president of Abramet, Antonio Meira Júnior.

Traffic fatality

Between 2013 and 2022, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are the groups with the highest number of deaths. According to the research, despite a general downward trend in traffic-related deaths, these groups continue to face disproportionate risks: half of all death records each year.

Pedestrians, historically the most affected, recorded a reduction in deaths from 8,220 in 2013 to 5,387 in 2022. Cyclists represent 1,300 deaths per year.

“Motorcyclists, often at the top of the list of traffic fatalities, show stability in numbers with a slight reduction in deaths. In 2022, 12 thousand deaths were recorded, indicating the critical need for specific strategies, including inspection, use of mandatory protective equipment and respect for traffic rules”, points out the research.

The data also shows that around 80% of hospitalizations and deaths in traffic accidents involve men. The difference between genders is explained by behavioral factors such as tendency to high speed and alcohol consumption.

Source: CNN Brasil

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