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| Road crashes 'bereave one in 100' | Road crashes 'bereave one in 100' |
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| Road traffic crashes left one in 100 people in England and Wales bereaved in a 25 year period, a study suggests. | Road traffic crashes left one in 100 people in England and Wales bereaved in a 25 year period, a study suggests. |
| Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine examined data on road traffic crash deaths between 1971 and 2005. | Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine examined data on road traffic crash deaths between 1971 and 2005. |
| Extrapolating from a sub-set of 1.1% of the population, they calculated 590,500 people had been bereaved by a road traffic crash in that time. | Extrapolating from a sub-set of 1.1% of the population, they calculated 590,500 people had been bereaved by a road traffic crash in that time. |
| The study appears in the journal Injury Prevention. | The study appears in the journal Injury Prevention. |
| It is a great shame that society now seems to accept this sort of death toll as normal Dr Phil EdwardsLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine | It is a great shame that society now seems to accept this sort of death toll as normal Dr Phil EdwardsLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
| Fatal vehicle collisions kill more than one million people worldwide every year, with around 3,000 deaths in the UK. | Fatal vehicle collisions kill more than one million people worldwide every year, with around 3,000 deaths in the UK. |
| Ten times as many people are left seriously injured or disabled as a result. | Ten times as many people are left seriously injured or disabled as a result. |
| The researchers examined data on people born on one of four specific days of the year - amounting to just over 1% of the population. | The researchers examined data on people born on one of four specific days of the year - amounting to just over 1% of the population. |
| In that group 1,801 adults and children were killed in road traffic accidents between 1971 and 2005. | In that group 1,801 adults and children were killed in road traffic accidents between 1971 and 2005. |
| The dead left behind a total of 6,467 close relatives, including step relatives and half siblings. | The dead left behind a total of 6,467 close relatives, including step relatives and half siblings. |
| Applying that calculation to the whole population, the researchers concluded that nearly 600,000 people across England and Wales were likely to have been bereaved following a road traffic accident in that 25 year period. | Applying that calculation to the whole population, the researchers concluded that nearly 600,000 people across England and Wales were likely to have been bereaved following a road traffic accident in that 25 year period. |
| As the population of England and Wales was 53.4m in 2005, that equates to 1.1% of people who had been bereaved in this way. | As the population of England and Wales was 53.4m in 2005, that equates to 1.1% of people who had been bereaved in this way. |
| The overall figure includes more than 131,000 parents who had lost a child and more than 107,000 children who had lost a parent. | The overall figure includes more than 131,000 parents who had lost a child and more than 107,000 children who had lost a parent. |
| The researchers admit that producing precise figures is impossible as there are many factors to take into account. | The researchers admit that producing precise figures is impossible as there are many factors to take into account. |
| Huge impact | Huge impact |
| However, their calculation does underline just what a huge impact road traffic accidents have on society. | However, their calculation does underline just what a huge impact road traffic accidents have on society. |
| They go on to estimate that since 1951 a total of 708,518 people in England and Wales have been bereaved following a road traffic accident. | They go on to estimate that since 1951 a total of 708,518 people in England and Wales have been bereaved following a road traffic accident. |
| This is a rough estimate, based on about 68,000 deaths on the road during the 1960s, and 50,000 during the 1950s. | |
| The researchers warn of a huge emotional legacy from such a death toll - and a significant cost to the health service in having to deal with serious mental health problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression. | The researchers warn of a huge emotional legacy from such a death toll - and a significant cost to the health service in having to deal with serious mental health problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression. |
| The economic impact is also considerable: In 2002, the Department of Health estimated preventing all fatal, serious, and minor road traffic casualties in England, Wales, and Scotland would save up to £17.76bn. | The economic impact is also considerable: In 2002, the Department of Health estimated preventing all fatal, serious, and minor road traffic casualties in England, Wales, and Scotland would save up to £17.76bn. |
| Lead researcher Dr Phil Edwards said: "Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death and disability. | Lead researcher Dr Phil Edwards said: "Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death and disability. |
| "It is a great shame that society now seems to accept this sort of death toll as normal. | "It is a great shame that society now seems to accept this sort of death toll as normal. |
| "Some people might think that one in 100 people walking along the street have lost a brother or sister, a mother or father in this way is not a lot. | "Some people might think that one in 100 people walking along the street have lost a brother or sister, a mother or father in this way is not a lot. |
| "But I hope that some people will be alarmed that quite so many people have lost someone close to them." | "But I hope that some people will be alarmed that quite so many people have lost someone close to them." |