In-depth investigation of traffic accidents with joint medical and engineering efforts in Japan

The pursuit of traffic safety toward ‘death and injury=zero’ is important for all road users. Key areas are the prevention of accidents, strategies for reducing injuries, and emergency medicine for victims of traffic accidents. Real-world traffic accidents require detailed scientific and objective analysis to ensure development of effective countermeasures. Here I suggest an optimal method, which combines medicine and engineering, to comprehensively investigate traffic accidents and reduce accidents in Japan. I also propose a strategy for reducing injuries. The key points of my proposal are as follows：Accidents should be investigated at the scene using clear criteria in a financially feasible manner. However, no such criteria exist and need to be created. The base for the investigations should be situated in medical facilities that specialize in trauma treatment. Computed tomography （CT） and autopsy should be performed to determine the cause of death. A database containing details of traffic accidents, medical information of victims, CT after death, and autopsy must be created and made available to researchers in Japan. Advanced automatic collision notification （AACN） is useful for reducing the time between an accident and medical contact and can help to save lives. An important point of AACN is the determination of collision details and triage of critical victims. Detailed analysis of a large number of cases is necessary to improve the precision of an automatic triage system. Assimilating the details of accidents and injuries is essential for developing a safe road traffic environment. Using medical facilities that specialize in trauma treatment, with an engineer on 24-h standby, as the base for investigation, researchers should use their experience to improve road safety in Japan by investigating accidents as soon as possible after they occur, perform CT or autopsy to determine cause of death, and develop a suitable database with free access to researchers. Moreover, the existing emergency medical system should be reformed to be applicable to AACN; although, implementation issues we can be anticipated.