SERIOUS INJURY SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHES

This report describes the methods used in the study, the characteristics of serious injury single vehicle crashes and how these differ from fatal single vehicle crashes. It compares the serious injury crash data with control data to estimate the risk factors for serious injury single vehicle crashes and then compares these with the risk factors previously identified for fatal single vehicle crashes. The comparison of risk factors for fatal and serious injury crashes was complicated by the poorer data quality for serious injury crashes than fatal crashes for some factors. For both fatal and serious injury crashes, the most important risk factors in terms of prevalence and increase in risk were: BAC greater than 0.05; driver aged under 25; driver aged 60 and over; learner permit or probationary licence; pre-1978 vehicle; and curved road. Fatal crashes were more likely to involve impact with a tree or pole than serious injury single vehicle crashes. (a)