Injury pattern of three wheel drivers and recommendations on prevention

Abstract

AttachedIntrod uction Year 2015 w as considered as the year o f highest recorded road traffic accidents in Sri Lanka. O f them , 6301 w ere three-w heeler accidents killing 400 persons. It w as n oted th at the m ortalities and m orbidities o f three w heeler accidents are increasing. Further, the injury patterns of the drivers o f three w heejer accidents have not been reported sufficiently. Follow ing tw o cases highlight the deficiencies fo u n d in the three w heelers and the risks to the drivers. C ase report Case-1: A driver o f a three w heeler received m ultiple injuries on his face, arm s and legs as a result of an accident w ith a bus. He received cuts, ab rasio n s and lacerations on the face, hand, and feet. There w ere less injuries to the chest. Case-2: A n oth e r driver o f a three w heeler received m ultiple injuries due to an accident w ith a van. After the incident his face w as seriously injured but no injuries to the chest. Conclusion Forensic path ologist is one o f the best experts to m ake re co m m e n d atio n s on vehicular safety as they w itnesses both the injury and the part o f the vehicle responsible. Their recom m en d ations are valuable for the im provem en t o f th e three w he eler in order to reduce m orbidity and m ortality o f the driver