Reducing road traffic collisions, injury and mortality: effects of increasing penalties for traffic offences in Semey city, Kazakhstan

INTRODUCTION:  The new increased penalties for traffic offences were introduced in Kazakhstan on August 1, 2008. It was expected that the reduction of road traffic collisions (RTC) and their medical consequences (injury, death) will be about 10-15%.

METHODS:  Design: before and after study. Data from Road police (n=658), all Municipal hospitals (n=1688) and outpatient clinics (n=2058), Forensic Department (n=318) were used in this study for the 2.5-years before and after implementation of penalties. Chi-square test was used to identify difference between numbers of RTC, victims with severe injuries (inpatient) and mild injuries (outpatients) and fatalities in studied periods.

RESULTS:  All studied variables were significantly decreased in 2.5 years after introduction of new penalties. The average number of RTC per month was 17 in pre- and 15.2 in post-implementation period. It was decreased by 10.6% (p=0.003). The average numbers of victims with severe injuries per month were decreased by 18.4% (p<0.001) from 30.9 to 25.2 per month. Mild injuries were decreased by 13.4% (p<0.001) from 36.1 to 32.2 cases per month. Fatalities were decreased by 20.3% (p<0.001) from 5.9 to 4.7 per month.

CONCLUSIONS:  This study shows a positive effect of increased penalties for traffic offences in Semey, Kazakhstan: decreasing of number of collisions, injuries and fatalities. The number of victims with severe injuries and fatalities after road traffic collisions were decreased more than it was expected.