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: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/road-safety
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%.
Notes to editors:
- Clinically seriously injured (MAIS 3+) casualties in Northern
Ireland, 1999-2023 have been produced using data on road
casualties admitted to hospital in Northern Ireland as well as
data on road casualties in road traffic collisions reported to
the PSNI.
- The majority of the data within the report derives from the
Department of Health Hospital Admissions data and is typically
based on the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2023. The
report first looks at the overall trend in MAIS 3+ casualty
numbers, and then examines the profile of casualties (gender,
age, road user type) in the last five years. A comparison with
PSNI reported serious injuries for road traffic collisions is
also presented.
- The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) is the clinical measure
used to classify and describe the severity of injuries; it
represents the threat to life associated with the injury. A score
of 1 indicates a minor injury, while 6 refers to an unsurvivable
injury. A casualty that sustains an injury with a score of 3 or
higher on the AIS is classified as clinically seriously injured
(MAIS 3+).
- The information in this publication can be used to make
international comparisons of the numbers of people that are
seriously injured as a result of road traffic collisions. The
MAIS 3+ clinical definition of a serious injury is currently
recommended by the EU, rather than police reported data, because
there are significant differences in the grading of severity of
injury that are applied in police data in each country
- Further information and electronic copies of Clinically
seriously injured (MAIS 3+) casualties in Northern Ireland,
1999-2023 are available at: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/road-safety
