Road accident injuries getting more serious

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http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/road-accident-injuries-getting-more-serious-20130528

An accident at the junction of Sin Ming Avenue
and Upper Thomson Road earlier this month

Injuries suffered by victims of road traffic accidents are becoming increasingly serious, according to figures from two Singapore hospitals.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) point to an increasing number of grievously injured trauma patients. They cited speeding, drink driving and more heavy vehicles as possible causes.

At TTSH, the number of badly injured road users has gone up by about 40 per cent.

In 2008, 129 road users - drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists - had injury severity scores above 16. Last year, there were 178 such patients.

"High-speed crashes tend to result in worse injuries. A higher number of cars, a higher population density, and speeding: It's a recipe for a major accident to happen," said Tan Tock Seng Hospital trauma surgeon Teo Li Tserng.

Trauma worsening

Tan Tock Seng Hospital

• The number of badly injured road users has gone up by about 40 per cent.
• In 2008, 129 road users - drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists - had injury severity scores above 16.
• Last year, there were 178 such patients.

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

• Opened in Yishun in 2010, it has already observed a doubling in the number of severely injured trauma patients.
• In 2011, it recorded 161 major trauma cases, of which about 40 per cent involved road traffic accidents.
• This went up to 291 cases last year, which included more than 100 road traffic accident patients.