Wheelchair users have higher mortality risk than other pedestrians

Wheelchair users have higher mortality risk than other pedestrians


Imagine going about your daily routine in a wheelchair.

The simple act of crossing a street could be frightening, or even dangerous, depending on how the intersection’s designed and whether drivers notice you.

A study published recently in the journal BMJ Open indicates that wheelchair users have one-third greater risk of being killed by motor vehicles, compared with other pedestrians.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, close to 5,000 pedestrians die in traffic accidents on U.S. roads each year. In the study, a pedestrian was defined as someone getting around without using a bicycle or a street-legal motor vehicle.

The researchers analyzed nationwide accident data collected from 2006 through 2012 and drawn from police reports and newspaper coverage.

The study focused on accident cases involving public roadways; some occurred at intersections, others along open roads.

Here are two significant findings: First, men in wheelchairs had five times the risk of death that women in wheelchairs had. This finding suggests that women using wheelchairs may be more cautious in traffic situations than their male counterparts. If that’s true, scientists might find lifesaving insights by researching gender differences in wheelchair operation.

The other significant finding was that 75 percent of the drivers involved in the accidents did not take any evasive action, as far as law-enforcement personnel could determine. This suggests that many drivers don’t notice wheelchairs, so perhaps better wheelchair visibility could reduce accidents.

Drivers, take note: Watch closely for pedestrians in wheelchairs on public roads. It’s important for everyone to use caution, common sense and courtesy when a wheelchair is part of the traffic environment.

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