Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.
J Safety Res. 2010 Feb;41(1):17-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2009.10.005. Epub 2009 Dec 16.
The purpose of this study was to analyze linked crash and hospital data to determine the effect that enactment of a standard enforcement safety belt law in Ohio would have on hospital charges and direct medical costs due to motor-vehicle crashes, focusing on the impact to the state's Medicaid system.
The linkage and analysis was conducted as part of the Ohio Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) program. Current safety belt usage in Ohio stands at 82% with its secondary enforcement safety belt law.
Assuming an increase in usage to 92% through standard enforcement, over $15.3 million in medical costs to Medicaid for injuries that occur in a single year could be prevented over a 10-year period. Cumulative savings could reach more than $91.2 million during the 10-year period. In addition, 161 fatalities could have been prevented in one year had all unbelted occupants who sustained a fatal injury instead chosen to wear their safety belt. SUMMARY AND IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Clearly, substantial progress can be made in reducing the number of deaths and injuries, as well as medical costs associated with motor-vehicle crashes, by strengthening safety belt laws and increasing safety belt usage in Ohio.
本研究旨在通过分析关联的碰撞和医院数据，确定俄亥俄州颁布标准执法安全带法对因机动车碰撞导致的医院收费和直接医疗费用的影响，重点关注对该州医疗补助制度的影响。
该关联和分析是作为俄亥俄州碰撞结果数据评估系统 (CODES) 计划的一部分进行的。目前，俄亥俄州的安全带使用率为 82%，并有其二级执法安全带法。
假设通过标准执法将使用率提高到 92%，在 10 年内，每年因伤害而导致医疗补助的医疗费用可减少超过 1530 万美元。在 10 年内，累计储蓄可能超过 9120 万美元。此外，如果所有未系安全带且遭受致命伤害的乘客选择系安全带，那么在一年内本可以避免 161 人死亡。
显然，通过加强安全带法并提高俄亥俄州的安全带使用率，可以在减少与机动车碰撞相关的死亡和伤害人数以及医疗费用方面取得重大进展。
