This study aimed to identify the set of circumstances that contributed to the involvement of adults in traffic accidents. The study was of the cross-sectional type using secondary data. The patterns were identified through cluster analysis using a method called Hierarchical Ascendant Classification. Five classes were identified. Three classes involved males with minor injuries resulting from accidents between vehicles or vehicle-object, during the daytime and with dry road surface conditions. Two classes involved females, resulting in severe injuries, and were notable for occurring during the night and with a lower rate of use of seat belts. The findings of this study, especially in relation to the more serious accidents involving the female drivers, draw attention to this situation and point to a need for further studies involving these classes, which are increasingly common in traffic patterns.
Traffic accidents; Adult; External causes; Highways; Cross-sectional studies