Traffic Accident Information Database
The world has seen a dramatic increase in traffic accidents in recent decades due to the sharp rise in motor vehicles. Accidents have become one of the leading causes of death among adults and children alike. It is therefore essential that sufficient information is collected on traffic accidents in order to understand their causes and to work towards reducing their occurrence. To this end, various traffic accident information databases have been created, the most comprehensive of which is the European Traffic Accident Database (ETAD).
The ETAD was established in 2014 and is a compilation of accidents resulting in death or injury that occurred on public roads in the 31 countries of the European Union. It includes data from police reports, health care records and national statistics and is updated on a quarterly basis. The data includes information such as the type of vehicle involved, the location of the accident, the age and gender of the injured and the severity of the injuries sustained. The ETAD also includes information about the environmental conditions at the time of the accident.
The ETAD allows for detailed analysis of traffic accidents in Europe and provides insights into the factors that influence their occurrence and the severity of their outcomes. By assessing the data in the ETAD, policy makers can identify the most dangerous roads, the most dangerous times of day as well as any safety measures that may need to be implemented. Furthermore, the ETAD also enables international comparison of traffic safety across countries and regions.
The ETAD is just one example of a traffic accident information database and there are numerous other databases which are used to collect and analyse data on traffic accidents. For example, in the United States the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) is used to collect data on fatal road accidents and the General Estimates System (GES) is used to collect data on non-fatal road accidents.
The establishment and use of traffic accident information databases is crucial for understanding the causes of traffic accidents and in furthering the development of strategies and policies that can reduce their occurrence. These systems must be continually updated and the data they contain must be analysed to yield meaningful insights. By understanding the causes of traffic accidents and their various contributing factors, it is possible to reduce their number and severity, thus helping to save lives and improve the quality of life for road users around the world.
