Abstract

Mortality and morbidity caused by accidents among Koreans have been increasing steadily and more strikingly from motor vehicle traffic accidents since 1980's, when owning and driving car became a fashionable and ubiquitous life style among Koreans. The proportion of deaths from accidents among all deaths was 9. 5% in 1983 and increased to 14. 8% in 1993. Moreover the mortality rate from the motor vehicle traffic accident increased more than three folds along with eight folds increased number of vehicles during the same period.