A new initiative – believed to be a world first – to reduce road deaths by linking health records and road traffic collision data has launched.
TRL is partnering with University Hospital Southampton for the ‘Data Sustains Life’ project, which aims to “anonymously integrate” wide-ranging data insights to provide a holistic view of the causes and consequences of road crashes in Great Britain.
TRL said despite significant investments in road safety technologies and interventions, the toll of road crashes on British roads has shown little change in recent years.
The project will link data from ambulances, air ambulances, police, the Department for Transport, and coroners, as well as the many interactions flowing through hospitals and explore the relationship between road crashes and the resulting health outcomes.
“By anonymously linking health data with road safety data, we can unlock new insights that will enable us to approach road safety with a fresh perspective,” said TRL’s Head of Transport Safety Dr Phil Martin.
“Our goal is to ensure that no more lives are unnecessarily lost on Britain’s roads.”
Findings are expected to inform both national road safety policies and global best practices.
The project has been awarded £500,000 in funding from the Department for Transport and the Road Safety Trust.
