To the Editor: Significant mortality and morbidity occur among pedestrians involved in road traffic incidents.1 The National Road Safety Strategy 2001–20102 aimed to achieve a 40% decrease in pedestrian fatalities in Australia through road safety measures, including urban speed limit reductions. To assess the impact of such measures, we examined the long-term mortality trend in pedestrians presenting to an inner Sydney major trauma centre and determined whether incident location was a predictor of major trauma (defined as in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit admission and/or Injury Severity Score > 15).
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- 1. Peng RY, Bongard FS. Pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents: an analysis of 5,000 patients. J Am Coll Surg 1999; 189: 343-348.
- 2. The National Road Safety Strategy 2001–2010. Canberra: Australian Transport Council, 2000. http://www.atcouncil.gov.au/documents/files/strategy.pdf (accessed Jan 2012).
- 3. NSW Centre for Road Safety. NSW speed zoning guidelines. Version 3.0. Sydney: Roads and Traffic Authority NSW, 2009. http://ols2.rta.nsw.gov.au/ebus/docs/rescat/pdf/10/1179/45094834spd zoneguide0409.pdf (accessed Jan 2012).
- 4. Kloeden CN, McLean AJ, Moore VM, Ponte G. Travelling speed and the risk of crash involvement. Adelaide: Centre for Automotive Safety Research, University of Adelaide,1997. http://casr.adelaide.edu.au/speed/ (accessed Jan 2012).
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