Injuries before and after the implementation of traffic safety countermeasures : a case study of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge

• The implementation of community injury prevention programs in order to reduce injuries caused by road traffic incidents has been a public health priority for many years. The purpose of this case-study was to investigate whether the implementation of traffic safety countermeasures on a bridge for bicyclists and pedestrians was effective in reducing the number and severity of injuries. The study was based on data from the injury database at the University Hospital of Umeå and includes data from 74 injured persons. Injury incidence, injury severity and the circumstances associated with injury incidences are reported. There was an increase in the incidence of both moderate and more serious injuries, such as brain injuries and fractures of upper extremities, after the safety countermeasures were put in place. Falls due to overturning with the bicycle dominated among single crashes. Collisions and crashes caused by giving way to pedestrians or other bicyclists were the most common types of crash. The main finding is that the modification of the bridge, which aimed to reduce injuries, has not been successful, in particular with reference to the incidence of severe injuries.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Before-after study

Bicyclists

Injuries

Pedestrians

Safety countermeasures

Traffic

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)