Burden, pattern and causes of road traffic accidents in Bhutan, 2013-2014: a police record review.

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major cause of death and injury globally. There was little information on the burden and causes of RTAs in Bhutan. The study estimates the burden and characteristics of RTAs and describes the victims of RTAs in Bhutan. A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted analysing police case records. In 2013-2014, 1866 accidents resulted in 1143 injuries and 157 deaths. We identified 39% more deaths from RTAs than that submitted to WHO in 2013 as the 30-day mortality. The main causes were careless driving and drunk-driving. Drivers and passengers constituted 86% of the deaths with few pedestrian deaths. Data for in-hospital deaths or after discharge were not available. Productivity loss due to RTA is around 1% of national GDP. There is significant mortality and morbidity from RTAs in Bhutan. There is no coordinated system for data collection and surveillance to monitor SDG goal 3.6.