Impact of the Uruguayan Road Safety Act on road traffic death rate

Abstract

Introduction: road traffic deaths are the eighth cause of death globally and the leading cause of death between the ages of 15 to 29. The National Road Safety Unit was created in Uruguay in 2007, with the aim of consolidating national road safety policies as well as promoting them through laws.

Objective: to analyze the impact of road traffic laws drafted and passed in Uruguay during 2007-2010 on road traffic deaths between 2011 and 2015.

Methods: this is a descriptive and retrospective study. We analyzed fulfillment of road traffic laws passed between 2007 and 2010, and their impact on mortality between 2011 and 2015. The study considers three measures that directly affect the risk factors frequently involved in road traffic deaths, such as alcohol, speed and use of helmet use.

Discussion: 16 deaths every 100.000 inhabitants was the average death rate between 2010 and 2015. Death rate in 2015 was the lowest in the period, dropping from 17.4 in 2011 to 14.6 in 2015. In the period from 2007 to 2010, prior to the approval of the road traffic law, the death rate had an ascending curve, accounting for 465 deaths in 2007 and 556 deaths in 2010. This growth rate was interrupted in 2011.

Conclusion: although between 2011 and 2015 there was an increase in vehicle fleet, gas uptake and tourist income, the road traffic death rate has decreased. We believe this figure is directly associated with new laws created and controlled by UNASEV, which have an active control in road traffic deaths risk factors.