Comparability

Comparability - geographical

No comments.

Comparability over time

Changes in the register: These include changes in the registration of road traffic accidents resulting in inconsistencies of data as well as the introduction of new variables.

• Since 1958, accidents involving only damage to property have been omitted from the statistics.
• In January 1967, the definition of road traffic accident involving casualties was changed to include only accidents involving at least one vehicle. This leaves out accidents involving only pedestrians.
• From January 1967, the classification of accidents according to main and secondary causes was changed to a classification according to the accident situation, based on an objective evaluation of the course of events leading up to the accident. In January 1981, the definition of slightly injured was changed. Minor bruises, scrapes and the like are no longer considered as slight injuries.
• In January 1983, the structure and contents of the statistical system were changed. New parameters - e.g., cycle paths, collision point, maneuver concerning the element record, and on driving license and moped license - were introduced. From January 1997, individuals who are admitted to hospital for observation due to concussion should be registered as slightly injured in cases where the diagnosis does not turn out to be concussion of the brain.

Legal changes: Legal changes, such as the introduction of and changes to speed limits and limits for level of alcohol in the blood, and requirements concerning the use of seat belts, helmets, child seats, lights, etc., can influence the overall development in the road traffic accident statistics.

Inconsistencies in time series: No data on road traffic accidents are available for the years 1944-45, since the police were non-operative in part of this period.

Coherence - cross domain

In addition to the account of deaths in road traffic accidents from the road traffic accident statistics, the Vital Statistics on death by cause of death also contain figures on the number of deaths in road traffic accidents. The two accounts are not directly comparable, as different methods of counting are used. In the Road Traffic Accident Statistics, only persons who have been involved in a road traffic accident in Denmark, on a public road and who have died within 30 days of the accident are counted as having been killed in road traffic accidents. The account of deaths by cause of death in the Vital Statistics is based on the death certificate and includes people who are permanently resident in Denmark, and who have died in Denmark or abroad. In connection with deaths caused by road traffic accidents, the statistics also include people who have died within 30 days of the accident as well as people who have died abroad, while foreigners who have died in Denmark are not included. An actual pooling of data for the years 1995-96 has shown that there is a fine congruity between the two registers.

The yearly statistics is comparable with the yearly tables from the Road Directorate.

Coherence - internal

Not relevant for these statistics.