Objective  To analyze the distribution characteristics of road traffic injuries (RTIs) registered by 120 emergency service system in Shenzhen city from 2013 to 2017 and to provide evidences for prevention of RTIs in the city.

  Methods  We collected data on RTIs registered by 120 emergency service system in Shenzhen city from 2013 to 2017 and on demographics and motor vehicle traffic during the same period; we sorted and classified the raw data collected and other relevant information and analyzed the processed data by spatial and temporal distribution and victims' gender, age, and injury type using descriptive epidemiology methods.

  Results  During the 5-five year period, totally 33 174 RTIs were registered by the 120 emergency service system in the city, with 7 119 cases (21.46% of all registered) in 2017. The RTIs incidence rate per 10 000 vehicles and per 10 000 population differed significantly by year (χ² = 427.6 and χ² = 242.3, both P < 0.001). The monthly incidence of the injuries was the lowest in February and showed no obvious fluctuation in other months in a year. More injuries occurred during the hours between 7 : 00 – 9 : 00, 11 : 00 – 13 : 00 and 15 : 00 – 18 : 00 in a day. The registered RTIs incidence rate was the lowest in Pingshan district and the highest in Baoan district and there was a significantly regional difference in RTIs incidence per 10 000 population, with the highest in Dapeng New District and the lowest in Nanshan district (χ² = 11 367.6, P < 0.001). The majority of the victims of the registered RTIs were males (68.27%) and the male to female ratio of the victims was 2.15 : 1. A higher RTIs incidence rate was observed in the population aged 20 – 30 years and the most (89.46%) of the registered RTIs were multiple injuries.

  Conclusion  In Shenzhen city during 2013 – 2017, the number of road traffic injuries increased but the incidence of the injuries per 10 000 vehicles and per 10 000 population decreased; more injuries occurred in rush hours in a day and the majority of the injury victims were young and middle-aged men.