Medical and Social Aspects of Road Accidents in the Khorezm Region of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Keywords:
road accidents, seasonal dynamics, injuries, mortality, severity of consequences, temporary risk factors, human factor, Khorezm regionAbstract
Road traffic injuries remain one of the leading causes of premature mortality and disability, and seasonal variations in accident rates are considered an important indicator of the influence of climatic, infrastructural, and behavioral factors on the severity of road accident consequences. For regions with significant transport and weather variability, studying the seasonal dynamics of road accidents is particularly important for developing targeted preventive measures. To study the seasonal dynamics of road accidents in the Khorezm region and assess its impact on the severity of consequences, identifying the main temporal and behavioral risk factors. A comparative epidemiological study was conducted based on official statistical data from the Road Safety Department of the Khorezm Region for 2024–2025. A total of 336 accidents recorded in 2024 and 315 in 2025 were analyzed. The total number of accidents, the number of fatalities and injuries, and the distribution of accidents by month of the year, season, lighting conditions, road type, and time characteristics were assessed. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to calculate absolute and relative indicators, dynamics, fatality rates, injury rates, and overall accident severity. The statistical significance of differences was assessed at p < 0.05. It was found that in 2025, compared to 2024, the total number of accidents decreased by 6.3% (315 vs. 336), the number of fatalities decreased by 13.7% (88 vs. 102), while the number of injuries increased by 5.9% (271 vs. 256). The seasonal dynamics of accidents remained two-peaked, with peaks in winter and summer-fall. The winter peak was associated primarily with deteriorating visibility, lighting, and road conditions, while the summer-fall peak was associated with increased traffic activity, intercity mobility, and increased behavioral risk factors. The analysis showed that seasonal fluctuations affect not only the frequency of accidents but also the severity of their consequences: in the cold period, the importance of infrastructural and climatic determinants increases, while in the warm season, the human factor, including speeding, fatigue, and poor traffic discipline, increases. Seasonal dynamics of road accidents in the Khorezm region reflects a stable rotation of risk factors throughout the year and significantly influences the structure and severity of accident consequences. The obtained results substantiate the need for a seasonally-oriented approach to road injury prevention, taking into account the climatic, infrastructural, and behavioral characteristics of the region.
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