An American study showed that people, who are in wheelchairs, are more likely to die in vehicular collisions than other pedestrians.

According to Business Insider, accident records cited that pedestrians, who are in wheelchairs, are thirty-six percent more likely to die in car collisions than other pedestrians.

Like Us on Facebook

"It is entirely possible that people who use wheelchairs may be at greater risk of death if they are in a pedestrian crash perhaps because - drivers are less likely to see them, brake, and collide; being lower to the ground wheelchair users may be hit more squarely; or some people who use wheelchairs may have pre-existing medical vulnerabilities," said John Kraemer, co-author of the study.

Kraemer and his co-author Connor Benton checked the 2006-2012 data of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System to determine the vulnerabilities of wheelchair users during car crashes.

"The researchers calculated that approximately 528 pedestrians using wheelchairs were killed in road traffic collisions during the study period, a death rate that is more than a third higher for wheelchair users than for the general population," Business Insider stated about the study's findings.

The study also found out that most of these accidents occurred in areas where there were no traffic control devices such as stoplights. Almost half of these accidents also happened in road intersections.

Kraemer advised drivers to pay attention while driving which means stop texting while driving, and obeying traffic rules which includes stops and speed limits.

The CBS News cited another important finding of the study which is the need for policymakers to "fully incorporate disability accommodations into pedestrian infrastructure and for persons who use wheelchairs - and others with disabilities - to remain a salient population when road safety interventions are designed."

The researchers also emphasized that people with disabilities should not be taken for granted. Their needs and safety should be well considered.

TagsWheelchair Accidents, People in Wheelchair High Mortality Accidents, John Kraemer