ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Motor vehicle accidents represent a public health problem in Mexico City due to the morbidity and mortality they involve; they are caused by the recklessness of drivers and failure to observe the transit regulations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Deaths due to motor vehicle accidents that occurred between 2005 and 2006 were analyzed according to the age group, type of accident, type of vehicle, hour and day of the accident. In case of deaths, the site of death--accident site, ambulance or hospital--was determined. RESULTS: The number of alcohol-related accidents decreased as a result of programs like the breathalyzer and radar. DISCUSSION: The measures implemented to reduce the accident-related mortality rate in Mexico City have not been effective enough from the perspective of the overall phenomenon, and thus the mortality shows a stable trend.
