Evaluation of the severity and pattern of motorcycle-related injuries among riders and passengers in Iran: a retrospective study
Abstract
Objective: Motorcycle-related traffic crashes remain a significant cause of severe injuries and fatalities, particularly in young populations. This study aimed to compare the injury severity and patterns sustained by motorcycle riders and passengers in crashes. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on motorcycle crash victims, including both riders and passengers, evaluated at the forensic medical organization in Iran from 2020 to 2022. Variables such as injury type, helmet use, and demographic factors were compared. The chi-squared test was applied to categorical variables, with P-values of <0.05 considered significant. The injury severity score (ISS) and the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) were used to assess trauma severity. Results: Of 214 cases (81.8% male), helmet use was significantly higher among riders than passengers (39.6% vs. 14.8%, P<0.05). Passengers demonstrated a greater risk of severe injury (45.4%) than riders (27.4%, P=0.01). Head injuries were significantly more prevalent among passengers (13%) than riders (5.7%, P=0.019), correlating with lower helmet use among the passengers. Additionally, fractures and dislocations were more common in passengers, while external injuries predominated in riders. Conclusion: Strengthening helmet regulations for passengers is critical to reducing head trauma. Stricter enforcement of traffic safety measures could significantly mitigate fatalities, especially among novice riders.
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19. Yadollahi M, Jamali B. Severity and injury characteristics among matched hospitalized motorcycle drivers and their passengers. Chin J Traumatol. 2019;22(4):223-7.
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21. Kashani AT, Rabieyan R, Besharati MM. Modeling the effect of operator and passenger characteristics on the fatality risk of motorcycle crashes. J Inj Violence Res. 2016;8(1):35.
22. Zhao H, Chen R, Deng G, Yin Z, Yang G, Liu S, et al. Comparison of injuries sustained by drivers and pillion passengers in fatal head-on motorcycle collision accidents. Forensic science international. 2011;207(1-3):188-92.
23. Chiang VX, Cheng JY, Zhang Z, Teo L-T. Comparison of severity and pattern of injuries between motorcycle riders and their pillions: a matched study. Injury. 2014;45(1):333-7.
24. Pruthi N, Chandramouli B, Sampath S, Devi BI. Patterns of head injury among drivers and pillion riders of motorised two-wheeled vehicles in Bangalore. The Indian Journal of Neurotrauma. 2010;7(2):123-7.
25. Ravikumar R. Patterns of head injuries in road traffic accidents involving two wheelers: an autopsy study. Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine. 2013;35(4):349-52.
26. Siddiqui SM, Sagar S, Misra MC, Gupta A, Crandall M, Swaroop M. Patterns of injury among motorized two-wheeler pillion riders in New Delhi, India. J Surg Res. 2016;205(1):142-6.
2. Navabi P, Tahmasebi R, Ravanipour M. Injury patterns and severity of motorcycle crash injuries among hospitalized children and adolescents in Darab, Iran in 2016: a cross-sectional study. PCNM. 2020;10(3):59-66.
3. Champahom T, Se C, Jomnonkwao S, Boonyoo T, Leelamanothum A, Ratanavaraha VJIjoer. Temporal instability of motorcycle crash fatalities on local roadways: a random parameters approach with heterogeneity in means and variances. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(5):3845.
4. Se C, Champahom T, Jomnonkwao S, Wisutwattanasak P, Laphrom W, Ratanavaraha VJS. Temporal instability and transferability analysis of daytime and nighttime motorcyclist-injury severities considering unobserved heterogeneity of data. Sustainability. 2023;15(5):4486.
5. Islam M. An empirical analysis on the effects of alcohol-impairment in injury severities of motorcyclists. International Journal of Crashworthiness. 2024;29(3):570-82.
6. Gorji A. The first international congress of road safety in Mashhad, Iran. Journal of Injury and Violence Research. 2012;4(2):101.
7. Kudebong M, Wurapa F, Nonvignon J, Norman I, Awoonor-Williams J, Aikins M. Economic burden of motorcycle accidents in Northern Ghana. Ghana Med J. 2011;45(4):135-42.
8. Lapostolle A, Gadegbeku B, Ndiaye A, Amoros E, Chiron M, Spira A, et al. The burden of road traffic accidents in a French departement: the description of the injuries and recent changes. BMC Public health. 2009;9(1):1-10.
9. Khati I, Hours M, Charnay P, Chossegros L, Tardy H, Nhac-Vu H-T, et al. Quality of life one year after a road accident: results from the adult ESPARR cohort. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;74(1):301-11.
10. Pons-Villanueva J, De Armenta MJR, Martínez-González MA, Seguí-Gómez M. Longitudinal assessment of quality of life and its change in relation to motor vehicle crashes: the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) cohort. J Trauma. 2011;70(5):1072-7.
11. King D, Hume PA, Hardaker N, Pearce A, Cummins C, Clark T. Traumatic brain injuries in New Zealand: national insurance (accident compensation corporation) claims from 2012 to 2016. J Neurol Sci. 2019;399:61-8.
12. Singh R, Singh HK, Gupta S, Kumar Y. Pattern, severity and circumtances of injuries sustained in road traffic accidents: a tertiary care hospital-based study. Indian J Community Med . 2014;39(1):30.
13. Kazemian M, Movahhedi M, Movahhed F. Facial fracture types in motorcyclists with and without helmet in Southeast of Iran. Journal of Mashhad Dental School. 2019;43(3):295-303.
14. Ahmed I, Islam T, Ali G, Nawaz MM. Pillion riders' cloth related injuries and helmet wearing patterns: a study of Lahore, Pakistan. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2016;23(4):388-94.
15. Lin M-R, Kraus JF. A review of risk factors and patterns of motorcycle injuries. Accid Anal Prev. 2009;41(4):710-22.
16. Sukumar S. A retrospective autopsy based study on the pattern of head injuries in pillion riders involved in fatal road traffic accidents. International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine. 2018;8(2 (Spring)):71-8.
17. Shruthi P, Varsha S. A study on sociodemographic profile and pattern of injuries in road traffic accidents amongst pillion riders in Chennai. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. 2020;14(3):497-501.
18. Chichom-Mefire A, Atashili J, Tsiagadigui JG, Fon-Awah C, Ngowe-Ngowe M. A prospective pilot cohort analysis of crash characteristics and pattern of injuries in riders and pillion passengers involved in motorcycle crashes in an urban area in Cameroon: lessons for prevention. BMC public health. 2015;15:1-8.
19. Yadollahi M, Jamali B. Severity and injury characteristics among matched hospitalized motorcycle drivers and their passengers. Chin J Traumatol. 2019;22(4):223-7.
20. Nzegwu MA, Aligbe J, Banjo A, Akhiwu W, Nzegwu C. Patterns of morbidity and mortality amongst motorcycle riders and their passengers in Benin-City Nigeria: one-year review. Ann Afr Med. 2008;7(2):82-5.
21. Kashani AT, Rabieyan R, Besharati MM. Modeling the effect of operator and passenger characteristics on the fatality risk of motorcycle crashes. J Inj Violence Res. 2016;8(1):35.
22. Zhao H, Chen R, Deng G, Yin Z, Yang G, Liu S, et al. Comparison of injuries sustained by drivers and pillion passengers in fatal head-on motorcycle collision accidents. Forensic science international. 2011;207(1-3):188-92.
23. Chiang VX, Cheng JY, Zhang Z, Teo L-T. Comparison of severity and pattern of injuries between motorcycle riders and their pillions: a matched study. Injury. 2014;45(1):333-7.
24. Pruthi N, Chandramouli B, Sampath S, Devi BI. Patterns of head injury among drivers and pillion riders of motorised two-wheeled vehicles in Bangalore. The Indian Journal of Neurotrauma. 2010;7(2):123-7.
25. Ravikumar R. Patterns of head injuries in road traffic accidents involving two wheelers: an autopsy study. Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine. 2013;35(4):349-52.
26. Siddiqui SM, Sagar S, Misra MC, Gupta A, Crandall M, Swaroop M. Patterns of injury among motorized two-wheeler pillion riders in New Delhi, India. J Surg Res. 2016;205(1):142-6.
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| Section | Original article | |
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| Accident Motorcycle Passengers Riders Trauma | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Akhlaghi M, Kadkhodaei A, Khabazian R, bazmi E, Sadeghian MH. Evaluation of the severity and pattern of motorcycle-related injuries among riders and passengers in Iran: a retrospective study. Front Emerg Med. 2025;.
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