India contributes to about 10% of the global death toll caused by road crashes. However, it is assumed that only 0.4 out of 1.4 million serious traffic accidents are recorded and scientifically investigated, thus underestimating the burden to the health care system.
The use of maps in medical research dates back to 1854, when John Snow traced the spread of cholera to the pump at the corner of Cambridge and Broad Street in London. This classic work stresses the value of spatial analysis for the understanding and solution of public health problems.
GIS is now extensively used in different areas of health care. Epidemiologists use GIS to study health hazards in the community, to develop policies and plans for prevention on both an individual and population-based level, and to overcome inequities in health care delivery [8–12].
This study suggests some potential for the use of GIS in trauma research, especially in rural areas with limited resources. By revealing a distinct accident cluster, the most likely risk factor for future events (i.e., a broken traffic light) could effectively be eliminated.
Most accidents on Indian highways tend to occur at sites with poor road design features. Although we used only a basic set of demographic and injury-related items, and the consequences of spatial analysis were exemplified by a single scenario, we feel that GIS is an innovative approach to overcome weaknesses in the planning and maintenance of Indian roadways, and to improve traffic control and safety measures [13].
Shortening the interval to basic life support, and rapid access to comprehensive trauma care within the so-called "golden hour of shock" is crucial for the survival of trauma victims. Identifying areas with a high incidence of traffic accidents may allow for the strategic positioning of response vehicles, thereby minimizing arrival times of rescue teams on scene and transferal times of patients to hospitals. Also, information obtained by spatial analysis may help to tailor the implementation and structure of trauma centers in rural and urban settings to the expected needs and volumes [14–16].