The Social and Economic costs of Not Wearing of Seat Belts in Georgia

PPPartnership for Road Safety in Georgiawww.safedrive.ge

Special acknowledgments to:Mr. Vakhtang SurguladzeMs. Nino ButskhrikidzeMr. Mamuka KapanadzeMr. Irakli Kilasonia

Every year about 1,3 million people die in traffic accidents and 50 million receive injuries (in the world).

The fatality rate in low and middle income countries wearies between 12.5-19.5 deceased per100 000 inhabitants;

In high income countries average fatality rate is - 10.3; The loss due to deceased and heavily injured rates from 1-3% of GDP.

International practice of wearing seat belts

The number of traffic accident related fatalities has been decreasing by 2% on average in European states in 2000-2006.

The same rate has been increasing in Georgia by 3% on average during 2000-2006.

According to different studies, the drivers and passengers without safety belts tend to address hospitals 3 times more often and receive fatal injuries 7 time more often then those who wore them during the accidents.

International practice of wearing seat belts

Effect of seat-belts on the probability of personal injury in all types of collisions

(individual effects)

Increases in front seat-belt wearing rates in selected countries after the implementation of legislation and

campaigns

Police statistics Forensic expertise bureau Information from hospitals Insurance companies

Information sources according to research desing

ISS - Injury Severity Score MAIS - Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale RTS-Revised Trauma Score - varies from 0 to 7.84.

Methodology

The research has used method by Dahdah and Mc Mahon, the similar method is used by World Bank.

The estimate of fatality is 70 times GDP per capita. The heavy injuries are estimated to be 10% cost of

fatality amount.

Methodology

Traffic accident trends in Georgia

Using Seat Belts in Georgia

In Tbilisi

On Highways

DriversPassenger

s

2 hospitals in Tbilisi: so called Republic Hospital and Gudushauri Hospital.

2008-2009 years and 34 month all together From 831 patients 577 didn’t use seatbelts, 34 have used seat

belts, the status of 220 is unknown. About 1/3 of those who have used belts were foreigners.

Analysis of the data collected in hospitals

The distribution of injuries by the damaged areas

The distribution of RTS

The average RTS when belt were used was 7.166 and 6.376 when not used.

T

Regression Analysis

As the regression coefficients show, that when the seat belts are used, the RTS in 1.508 higher on average. As the maximum score is 7.84, substantively, the effect is about 20%.

The loss caused by fatalities and heavy injuries, in million GEL, 2004-2008, current prices

Due to fatalities and heavy injuries, Georgia’s economy is loosing 1.1-1.5 % of its GDP. The losses tend to increase.

The largest portion of fatalities and injuries fall in age category between 26-40.

2/3 of them are male. Every 4th injured child is due to traffic accident. 63% of unbelted patients have head bone injuries,

minimum 20% heavier then those who wore belts. If 60% of them wore belts, only in 2008 170-300 lives

could be saved!!!!

Summary

Legislation changes + monitoring mechanisms are vital!!!

Police statistics Forensic expertise bureau Information from hospitals Insurance companies

Other findings

Questions??????

Thanks for attantion