Objective:

To describe the characteristics and epidemiological profile of road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Mexico during the period 2010-2019.

Materials and methods:

The study is descriptive and retrospective. As secondary sources were analyzed the database "Road Accidents", “Vehicle fleet” and “Mortality” of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). In addition, a descriptive analysis was added using chi square.

Results:

In the period studied, there were 3,808,981 RTAs, 19.8% of these occurred in Nuevo León. Cars and trucks are the types of vehicle most often involved in these accidents. The recklessness of the driver is the main cause of traffic accidents. The most common type of accident is a collision with a motor vehicle (67.7%). RTAs have caused 52,387 deaths at the accident site and 1,126,709 injured in Mexico in the period.

Conclusions:

RAs are a public health problem in Mexico. There is a downward trend in the mortality and morbidity figures from RA in the period studied. Although vehicle occupants are the main victims of fatal and non-fatal accidents, pedestrians are the most vulnerable group in terms of mortality. The study adds to the Mexican literature on road safety, seeking to serve in the decision-making of the institutions involved.

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