MOTORCYCLE CRASHES RESULTING IN DEATH AND HOSPITALIZATION .2. TRAFFICCRASHES

This is the second paper in a series of three that describe the epidem iology of motorcycle crashes in New Zealand that result in death and h ospitalisation. The first paper presented an overview of all motorcycl e crashes. This paper focuses on traffic crashes. The source of the fa tality data was national mortality data files for the years 1978 to 19 87 inclusive. The source of the hospitalisation data was the 1988 nati onal morbidity file which records all public hospital discharges in Ne w Zealand. For the period 1978 to 1987, 1,175 fatalities were identifi ed resulting in a mortality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 persons per year. Males aged 15-19 and 20-24 had very high rates (25.2 and 26.4, respect ively), especially labourers (40.0) and forestry workers (32). Maori a nd non-Maori had similar rates. The majority (63%) of the deaths were attributable to a collision with another motor vehicle. During 1988 2, 222 motorcyclists were hospitalised giving an incidence rate of 68.1 p er 100,000 persons per year. Males aged 15-19 and 20-24 had very high rates (409 and 416, respectively), especially labourers (355). Maori h ad a higher morbidity rate than non-Maori (99 versus 61). The most com mon (40%) crash was a collision with another motor vehicle. The most c ommon sites of injury were the lower limb (43%) and head (23%). Collis ion crashes were more likely to result in lower limb injury, be more s evere, and result in longer stays in hospital.