Effect of the new road traffic laws on fatal and non-fatal injury rates in Iran
METHODS: It was an overtime controlled trial of intervention. All subjects faced to fatal and non fatal injuries caused by six risky fractions (unauthorized speed, illegal overtaking, red traffic light crossing, helix movement, reverse gear movement in the highways, vehicle arrestment in two simultaneous fractions) during defined period of time, from (June 2010 to November 2010 as control and June 2011 to November 2011 as case groups) were studied. Existing FAVA and forensic data was used and analyzed the effect of intervention of new road traffic laws on fatal and non- fatal injuries.
RESULTS: The new traffic laws lead to reduction of fatal and non- fatal road traffic injuries in urban and metropolitan ways after implementation and its trend was continued during six months. Reduction of fatal and non-fatal road traffic injuries was higher among 20-29 years age groups after new traffic laws intervention. The effect of new traffic laws on reduction of fatal and non-fatal injuries was: 8.7 and 33.3 percent respectively. Reduction of fatality and injury rate at crash scene were 0.4 and 11.1 per (100,000) population respectively after six months of intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: The enforcement of the first phase of new traffic laws had a positive effect on fatal and non-fatal reduction rates of road traffic injuries in Iran. Perseverance in full and corrected new traffic regulation can be more effective in maintaining and increasing of effectiveness. The impact of new laws is recommended to be investigated in more details and long-term.