V. Conclusions

    This study determined that death certificates represent the best available source for identifying deaths that result from non-traffic and non-crash incidents involving a motor vehicle. However, even a comprehensive review of death certificates will not identify every non-traffic or non-crash death. This study, for example, found news reports of non-traffic or non-crash motor vehicle related deaths for which death certificates should have been found, but were not. A variety of factors can explain this, such as errors in coding on death certificates or a focus in the death certificate on the precise and immediate medical cause of death rather than the fact that the precipitating cause was motor vehicle related.
    As to the specific issues investigated, this study found the following.

  • Carbon monoxide – The number of deaths found in 1998 death certificates suggests there are about 200 unintentional deaths a year, nearly all adults, from vehicle-generated carbon monoxide. Other sources examined found a similar, although somewhat higher number. These deaths most often do not involve moving vehicles, but rather vehicles left running in enclosed spaces. Some victims identified were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their death.
  • Vehicles backing up – Based on deaths found in 1998 death certificates, about 120 deaths of persons struck by a vehicle backing up occur annually. Most of the victims are either very young (less than five years old) or elderly (60 and above), with most of the elderly victims over age 70. As many as 6,000 injuries, mostly minor, occur each year as a result of these types of incidents.
  • Excessive heat inside a vehicle passenger compartment - Deaths found in 1998 death certificates project to a national total of 29 deaths annually of persons exposed to excessive heat inside a vehicle passenger compartment. A similar projected level of annual deaths (27) from this cause was found in the agency’s previous study of 1997 death certificates.
  • Vehicle window - Four deaths resulting from interaction with a vehicle window were found in 1998 death certificates. The agency’s study of 1997 death certificates also found four deaths involving interaction with a vehicle window.