Background:

Traffic accidents (TA) are a global problem with mortality of 1.25 million each year. The objective of this study was to compare adjusted mortality rates (AMR) by AT of Colombia, with Spain and the United States (US). The selection is justified because Colombia is a country with less development in road safety, Spain a nation that has adhered to European guidelines and US for having little adherence to international guidelines.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out for five-year periods, by calculating the AMRs by the direct method of standardization according to sex and age groups, as well as the adjustment of the motorization index. The mean values, the 95% confidence interval for each country and the relative change between the periods studied were calculated.

Results:

The AMR of periods P1 and P2 in all countries decreased significantly (p <0.005). In periods P2 and P3 also decreased significantly in Spain, by 52.0% (p = 0.010), and in the US, by 23.6% p = 0.001), while in Colombia the difference of 4.0% it was not significant (p = 0.724). Spain stood out for the reduction in mortality (P1-P3), by 69.0%.

Conclusions:

Colombia presented a less favorable evolution of mortality due to AT than Spain and the US. Men aged 15 to 44, motorcyclists and cyclists were the most committed. The TAs are a public health problem that Colombia has raised and must adapt to its reality those successful measures in other countries.

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