Citation

Nistal-Nuño B. J. Res. Health Sci. (2005) 2017; 17(1): E1-8.

Affiliation

Stanford University Medical Center, Emergency Medicine Department, Palo Alto, USA. nistalnunobeatriz7@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, School of Public Health)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

28413167

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Chile, a new law introduced in March 2012 lowered the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for impaired drivers from 0.1% to 0.08% and the BAC limit for driving under the influence of alcohol from 0.05% to 0.03%, but its effectiveness remains uncertain. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of this enactment on road traffic injuries and fatalities in Chile. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study.

METHODS: Data were analyzed using a descriptive and a Generalized Linear Models approach, type of Poisson regression, to analyze deaths and injuries in a series of additive Log-Linear Models accounting for the effects of law implementation, month influence, a linear time trend and population exposure. A review of national databases in Chile was conducted from 2003 to 2014 to evaluate the monthly rates of traffic fatalities and injuries associated to alcohol and in total.

RESULTS: It was observed a decrease by 28.1 percent in the monthly rate of traffic fatalities related to alcohol as compared to before the law (P<0.001). Adding a linear time trend as a predictor, the decrease was by 20.9 percent (P<0.001).There was a reduction in the monthly rate of traffic injuries related to alcohol by 10.5 percent as compared to before the law (P<0.001). Adding a linear time trend as a predictor, the decrease was by 24.8 percent (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Positive results followed from this new 'zero-tolerance' law implemented in 2012 in Chile. Chile experienced a significant reduction in alcohol-related traffic fatalities and injuries, being a successful public health intervention.

Language: en

Keywords

Blood alcohol concentration; Fatalities; Injuries; Poisson; Public health