Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Motor vehicle collisions are one of the primary cause of disability and death worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that about 1.24 million people die each year due to traffic collisions. The objective of this study was to examine the association between area level deprivation and severity of vehicle collisions. As a secondary objective we examined interactions between area level socioeconomic status and urban form features (road conditions, posted speed limit, and traffic volume). A multilevel observational study was conducted using data from 2000 to 2010 using the Saskatchewan Traffic Accident Information System (TAIS) for Saskatoon. We analyzed 72,234 collisions occurring in 337 dissemination areas (DA). The outcome variable was collision severity categorized as either property damage or injury/fatal collision. The Pampalon deprivation index is calculated for each DA using census data and was the primary exposure. Additional variables of interest included, light condition, vehicle type, road condition, road surface condition, speed, seasons, traffic volume, road type, and total precipitation. Approximately 11% of the variation in the severity of the collision was explained by area level deprivation in Saskatoon. The odds of an injury or fatal collision occurring in the most deprived areas was 1.6 (95% CI 1.2 to 2.2) times greater compared to the least deprived area. Our study showed a significant association between area level SES and severity of traffic collisions. The results of this study are consistent with past research and contribute to an emerging literature demonstrating that area level deprivation is associated with collisions. Improving poor road conditions, enhancing the number of street lights on roads, and reducing traffic volume could improve road safety in deprived areas.