R oad traffi c injuries in Thailand are becoming more critical and are the 2 nd leading cause of death, second only to heart disease. In many provinces, traffi c accidents rank as the leading cause of death. Furthermore, traffi c injuries are the 1 st leading cause of death among people aged below 40. This age group is the most economically productive and their loss has a great impact on their families and on national productivity. 1 Traffi c injuries are responsible for more morbidities and

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... abilities, than any other cause. [4] [5] Each year, more than 600,000 trauma patients are hospitalized, and more than 1,000,000 receive minor injuries from traffi c accidents. Traffi c injuries alone account for more than 10,000 deaths a year, whilst about 40,000 people become disabled a year, causing a heavy economic burden to family, society, and the country as a whole. 1, 6, 7