Abstract
Objective: A pilot study to estimate the societal costs of cycling crashes in Tasmania. Methods: A telephone-based questionnaire collected information on demographics, cycling habits and details of major and minor crashes. Costs were estimated from medical resource consumption, lost work and leisure time. Results: The survey was completed by 136 cyclists. Participants reported 59 major crashes in five years preceding the interview and 27 minor crashes in 12 months. Mean (standard deviation) costs/major crash were $12,499 ($14,301), including direct medical costs $2,569 ($4,523), direct non-medical costs $372 ($728), indirect costs of $6,027 ($10,092) and costs of lost leisure time $3,531 ($7,062). Costs/minor crashes were $632 ($795), including direct non-medical costs of $225 ($601), productivity losses of $117 ($210) and costs of lost leisure time $290 (622). Total annual costs of major cycling crashes in Tasmania were $4,239,097 ($4,850,255). Conclusions: Indirect costs and costs due to lost leisure time are major contributors to the total societal costs. The comprehensive quantification of costs of crashes will inform decision makers formulating policies that improve the safety of cyclists leading to reductions in the economic burden on society.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 485-490 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- accidents
- Australia
- costs
- cycling
- Tasmania
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Investigating the costs of major and minor cycling crashes in Tasmania, Australia. / Palmer, Andrew J.; Si, Lei; Gordon, Jared M.; Saul, Tim; Otahal, Petr; Hitchens, Peta L.
In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Vol. 39, No. 5, 01.10.2015, p. 485-490.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the costs of major and minor cycling crashes in Tasmania, Australia
AU - Palmer, Andrew J.
AU - Si, Lei
AU - Gordon, Jared M.
AU - Saul, Tim
AU - Otahal, Petr
AU - Hitchens, Peta L.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Objective: A pilot study to estimate the societal costs of cycling crashes in Tasmania. Methods: A telephone-based questionnaire collected information on demographics, cycling habits and details of major and minor crashes. Costs were estimated from medical resource consumption, lost work and leisure time. Results: The survey was completed by 136 cyclists. Participants reported 59 major crashes in five years preceding the interview and 27 minor crashes in 12 months. Mean (standard deviation) costs/major crash were $12,499 ($14,301), including direct medical costs $2,569 ($4,523), direct non-medical costs $372 ($728), indirect costs of $6,027 ($10,092) and costs of lost leisure time $3,531 ($7,062). Costs/minor crashes were $632 ($795), including direct non-medical costs of $225 ($601), productivity losses of $117 ($210) and costs of lost leisure time $290 (622). Total annual costs of major cycling crashes in Tasmania were $4,239,097 ($4,850,255). Conclusions: Indirect costs and costs due to lost leisure time are major contributors to the total societal costs. The comprehensive quantification of costs of crashes will inform decision makers formulating policies that improve the safety of cyclists leading to reductions in the economic burden on society.
AB - Objective: A pilot study to estimate the societal costs of cycling crashes in Tasmania. Methods: A telephone-based questionnaire collected information on demographics, cycling habits and details of major and minor crashes. Costs were estimated from medical resource consumption, lost work and leisure time. Results: The survey was completed by 136 cyclists. Participants reported 59 major crashes in five years preceding the interview and 27 minor crashes in 12 months. Mean (standard deviation) costs/major crash were $12,499 ($14,301), including direct medical costs $2,569 ($4,523), direct non-medical costs $372 ($728), indirect costs of $6,027 ($10,092) and costs of lost leisure time $3,531 ($7,062). Costs/minor crashes were $632 ($795), including direct non-medical costs of $225 ($601), productivity losses of $117 ($210) and costs of lost leisure time $290 (622). Total annual costs of major cycling crashes in Tasmania were $4,239,097 ($4,850,255). Conclusions: Indirect costs and costs due to lost leisure time are major contributors to the total societal costs. The comprehensive quantification of costs of crashes will inform decision makers formulating policies that improve the safety of cyclists leading to reductions in the economic burden on society.
KW - accidents
KW - Australia
KW - costs
KW - cycling
KW - Tasmania
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84943139784&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1753-6405.12384
DO - 10.1111/1753-6405.12384
M3 - Article
VL - 39
SP - 485
EP - 490
JO - Community Health Studies
T2 - Community Health Studies
JF - Community Health Studies
SN - 1326-0200
IS - 5
ER -