An estimate of the effectiveness of an in-vehicle automatic collision notification system in reducing road crash fatalities in South Australia.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to estimate the potential effectiveness of an in-vehicle automatic collision notification (ACN) system in reducing all road crash fatalities in South Australia (SA).


METHODS
For the years 2008 to 2009, traffic accident reporting system (TARS) data, emergency medical services (EMS) road crash dispatch data, and coroner's reports were matched and examined. This was done to initially determine the extent to which there were differences between the reported time of a fatal road crash in the mass crash data and the time EMS were notified and dispatched. In the subset of fatal crashes where there was a delay, injuries detailed by a forensic pathologist in individual coroner's reports were examined to determine the likelihood of survival had there not been a delay in emergency medical assistance.


RESULTS
In 25% (N = 53) of fatalities in SA in the period 2008 to 2009, there was a delay in the notification of the crash event, and hence dispatch of EMS, that exceeded 10 min. In the 2-year crash period, 5 people were likely to have survived through more prompt crash notification enabling quicker emergency medical assistance. Additionally, 3 people potentially would have survived if surgical intervention (or emergency medical assistance to sustain life until surgery) occurred more promptly.


CONCLUSIONS
The minimum effectiveness rate of an ACN system in SA with full deployment is likely to be in the range of 2.4 to 3.8% of all road crash fatalities involving all vehicle types and all vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists) from 2008 to 2009. Considering only passenger vehicle occupants, the benefit is likely to be 2.6 to 4.6%. These fatality reductions could only have been achieved through earlier notification of each crash and their location to enable a quicker medical response. This might be achievable through a fully deployed in-vehicle ACN system.
['Ponte|G|G|', 'Ryan|G A|GA|', 'Anderson|R W G|RW|']
D000063:Accidents, Traffic D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D001336:Automobiles D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D019035:Rural Health Services D013021:South Australia D013997:Time Factors D019037:Urban Health Services D055815:Young Adult
automatic collision notification emergency medical services crash notification delay eCall