[Characteristics of mortality in traffic accidents in an area of Southern Brazil].

OBJECTIVE The mortality by traffic accidents is discussed by means of the characterization of residents who died as a result of accidents in 1992. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study population was made up of all the victims of accidents which occurred in 1992 and who died in the same year. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The majority of victims were males between the ages of 20 and 49 years who were pedestrians (29%), motorcycle riders (34%) or cyclists (18%). The accidents occurred mostly in the early afternoon and evening at crossroads of the busiest avenues. It may be concluded that even in the interior towns the consequences of traffic accidents constitute one of the principal hazards to the population's health and reveal a distinct pattern that calls for measures specific prevention.