Clinically Seriously Injured (MAIS3+) Road Casualties in Northern Ireland 1999 to 2023 has been published today
Date published:
Clinically seriously injured (MAIS 3+) casualties in Northern Ireland, 1999-2023 has been produced by Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB).
The MAIS 3+ data included in this report are produced using casualty admissions to hospitals in Northern Ireland, between 1999 and 2023, with a clinically defined serious injury following a road traffic collision.
The publication is available on the ASRB website at:
Key Points
- In 2023 there were 66 MAIS3+ casualties - this is an increase of 12% over the year and a decrease of 72% from the peak of 235 in 2002.
- While the numbers of MAIS3+ casualties are lower than PSNI reported seriously injured, the overall trends are similar: both series have shown a historical decrease followed by signs of levelling off, but with increases in more recent years.
- Males accounted for seven-tenths (69%) of MAIS3+ casualties in Northern Ireland in the five years from 2019-2023. This is greater than the proportions for male casualties reported in overall hospital admissions (67%) and PSNI serious injuries (62%).
- Over one quarter (26%) of MAIS3+ casualties from 2019-2023 were aged 70 and over. This differs markedly from the age profile of overall hospital admissions for road traffic collisions and PSNI serious injuries, where 14% and 11%, respectively, were in this age band.
- Overall, 11% of hospital admissions for road traffic collisions in the five years 2019-2023 have injuries classified as MAIS3+; however, the proportions differ slightly by road user type, ranging from 9% of pedal cyclists having MAIS3+ injuries to 13% of pedestrians and 14% of other road users. 11% of car user and motorcyclist hospital admissions have injuries classified as MAIS3+.
- Comparing the number of hospital admissions to police reported serious injuries we see that a significant proportion (24% over the 25 years 1999-2023) of SI casualties are not known to the police; however, this historic underreporting has changed in recent years. In every year since 2020 the number of PSNI Serious Injures have exceeded hospital admissions. In the most recent five-year period (2019-2023) PSNI Serious Injuries exceeded Hospital admissions by 22%.
