ArticleJournal of epidemiology and community health2007
Evidence-based policy on road safety: the effect of the demerit points system on seat belt use and health outcomes.
Article in Journal of epidemiology and community health, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effectiveness of road safety interventions: An evidence and gap map.Campbell systematic reviews · 2024Article
- Investment in roads and traffic safety: linked to economic development? A European comparison.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2023Article
- Article
- Trends in the use of seat belts and mobile phones and their seasonal variations in Florence (2005-2015).PloS one · 2018Observational
- The impact of alcohol and road traffic policies on crash rates in Botswana, 2004-2011: a time-series analysis.Accident; analysis and prevention · 2014Article
- Impact of the penalty points system on road traffic injuries in Spain: a time-series study.American journal of public health · 2010Article
- Seat belt use among rear passengers: validity of self-reported versus observational measures.BMC public health · 2008Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo assess the effect of a demerit points system, introduced in Italy in July 2003, on the prevalence of seat belt use (intermediate outcome) and the number of road traffic deaths and injuries (health outcomes).
designPre- and post-intervention regional observational study for seat belt investigation (April 2003, October 2004); national time-series analysis of road traffic deaths and injuries between 1999 and 2004 for health outcomes.
settingVeneto region, Italy.
participants19,551 drivers, 19,057 front passengers and 8,123 rear passengers estimated to be aged over 11 years were included in the investigation into seat belt use. 38,154 fatalities and 1,938,550 injured subjects were examined for the time-series analysis.
interventionsDemerit points system.
main outcome measuresThe proportions of drivers and front and rear passengers observed to be using seat belts before and after the intervention; estimates of lives and injuries saved through the implementation of a penalty points system.
resultsThe demerit points system was followed by an increase in observed seat belt use of 51.8% (95% confidence interval 48.7% to 54.9%) among drivers, of 42.3% (95% confidence interval 39.2% to 45.5%) among front passengers and of 120.7% (95% confidence interval 99.4% to 144.3%) among rear passengers. It is estimated that 1,545 (95% confidence interval 1387 to 1703; p<0.0001) deaths and 91,772 (95% confidence interval 67,762 to 115,783; p<0.0001) injuries were prevented in the 18 months after the introduction of the legislation, i.e. an 18% reduction (1545/8570) in fatalities and a 19% reduction (91,772/473,048) in injuries.
conclusionsThe demerit points system is effective both in encouraging drivers and passengers to adhere to the law and in terms of health outcomes, substantially contributing to road safety.
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