J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2022 Aug;33(4):406-415.

Are rental car accidents more fatal on Jeju island?

• Lee HS
• Kang JH
• Kim WJ
• Kang YJ
• Kang KW
• Park HS
• Song SW
• Park CB
• Bu JH
• Lee SK
• Ko SY

Abstract

Objective
The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the characteristics between rental car crashes and non-rental car crashes on Jeju Island, and to investigate the association between rental car crashes and the severity of injuries.
Methods
This study analyzed data on traffic accidents that occurred on Jeju Island, South Korea from January 2010 to December 2019. The data on traffic accident-related factors were collected using the Traffic Accident Analysis System operated by the Road Traffic Authority. The primary outcome was a fatal injury and secondary outcomes were severe and minor injuries. We analyzed the differences in the characteristics of each factor between rental car crashes and nonrental crashes. We also analyzed the correlation between rental car accidents and the outcome variables.
Results
A total of 40,713 traffic accidents occurred during the study period, of which 4,601 (11.3%) were rental car crashes and 36,112 (88.7%) were non-rental crashes. In the rental car crash group, the proportions of the 20-30s age group and female drivers were higher; however, the proportion of the risky driving behaviors was lower. Also, the incidence rate in summer and daytime was higher, and the proportions of vehicle-to-vehicle crashes, single vehicle crashes, and head-on collisions were higher. According to the results of the Poisson regression test, the rental car crash group showed a higher risk of severe injuries (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.14), but there was no significant difference in their risk of fatal injuries.
Conclusion
Our results suggest the need for traffic accident prevention programs considering the characteristics of rental car crashes on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Keyword

Traffic accidents; Injury; Risk factors