Data collected by the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) trauma team shows an increase in motor vehicle collision presentations throughout the spring and summer months.
From December 2021 to February 2022, the Major Trauma Service team saw the biggest influx of patients with 419 patients admitted to the RMH for road trauma.
“As one of Victoria’s major trauma centres, we do certainly start to see an increase in road traumas when more people are out on the roads over the warmer months in spring and summer,” said director of trauma at the RMH, Dr David Read.
“About 30 per cent of our trauma workload is related to road trauma.”
The data also highlights that men are more likely to be involved in road trauma, making up for 60 per cent of cases compared to women which is about 40 per cent.
“A large portion of these patients are within the age bracket of 20 to 29,” said Dr Read.
“We’ve also found that Sundays are notorious for road traumas, followed by Friday and Thursday,” he added.
In addition to road trauma presentations, low and high falls, motorbike collisions and collisions involving cyclists were also high contributors to major traumas.
“As motorists hit the roads this summer and holiday season, we would like to remind drivers to take their time,” said Dr Read.
“Whether it’s a short drive down the road or a trip interstate, please take care of yourself and others while out on the roads to ensure you arrive safely, while we are always open and available, we would prefer you spend the holidays with your loved ones, and not at the hospital,” he added.
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