Road traffic accidents mean lost productivity and medical expenditures. We explain trends in traffic accidents as a function of the political cycle using municipal data from Italy. We show that during municipal election years, the accident rate increases by 1.5%, with a 2% increase in the injury rate but no effect on the fatality rate. The effects are stronger in the quarter prior to the election quarter, when the electoral campaign is at its zenith, and in the second quarter after the election for the new elected mayor. We show that this is the result of a decrease in tickets for traffic violations (rate and revenues) during election years. Our results are robustly driven by the municipal political cycle defined in different ways, and their magnitude and direction are not explained by the spillover effects between municipalities. Proximity to a national police station reduces the impact of local elections on injury rates.

• Klíčová slova
• Municipalities, Political cycle, Road traffic accidents, Tickets for traffic violations,
• MeSH
• dopravní nehody * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Itálie epidemiologie   MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of fatalities in injuries in traffic accidents in Montenegro, identify contributing risk factors, and determine the most vulnerable participants in these accidents. METHODS: The research was designed as a retrospective descriptive study. Participants were people admitted to the Urgent Centre of Clinical Centre of Montenegro due to injuries in traffic accidents that resulted in serious bodily injury or death in the period from 2011-2020. We presented data using descriptive statistics. The square test was used to examine the association between the outcome of traffic injury with sex, age, category of injury, type of traffic participant, and injury localisation. Additionally, we used logistic regression to estimate the best predictor value of these variables for outcome. RESULTS: It was found that 44.7% of injured people died, the most frequent fatal outcome was registered in patients with central nervous system injuries (73.2%), then in patients with asphyxia (47.0%), and patients with bleeding (40.5%), χ2 = 27.530, p < 0.001. The most frequently injured traffic participants were drivers, but the highest number of deceased were among cyclists. Also, logistic regression showed that the category of injury was the most predictive impact on outcome in traffic-injured correspondents (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among the injured, the highest number are drivers, and the fatal outcome mostly depends on the injury category. Nearly half of those injured in traffic accidents die, especially those with central nervous system injuries and cyclists. Therefore, special attention should be given during public health campaigns related to traffic accident prevention, focusing on this injury and this category of traffic participants.

• Klíčová slova
• bleeding, chest injuries, head injuries, traffic accidents,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dopravní nehody * statistika a číselné údaje   mortalita   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• rány a poranění * mortalita   epidemiologie   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Černá Hora epidemiologie   MeSH

• Klíčová slova
• ACCIDENTS, TRAFFIC *,
• MeSH
• dopravní nehody * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• úrazy a nehody * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether drivers suffering from epilepsy, chronic alcoholism and/or hazardous drinking, psychoactive substance abuse, other diseases of the nervous system, mental and behavioural disorders, cardiovascular diseases, severe diabetes, and severe eye diseases are at a greater risk of causing traffic accidents and traffic violations than drivers that cause accidents and violations without these diagnoses. METHODS: A case control study was carried out. The cases were drivers checked by a special medical committee in the period observed suffering from the diseases listed above. Matched controls were taken from the cohort of those that caused accidents and violations during the same period observed. The descriptive statistics were followed by calculation of correlations, t-tests and χ2, and the odds ratio. RESULTS: Drivers with referrals for diseases of the nervous system are five times more likely to cause a traffic accident compared to controls (OR=5.18; 95% CI=2.59-10.34); in addition, a high risk is associated with drivers with mental and behavioural disorders (OR=3.64; 95% CI=1.91-6.94), drivers with epilepsy (OR=1.99; 95% CI=1.01-3.92), and drivers addicted to alcohol (OR=1.71; 95% CI=1.01-2.89). CONCLUSION: Drivers suffering from addiction, a disease of the nervous system, or epilepsy are more likely to cause a traffic accident, which is a contribution to the inconclusive findings of previous studies. The multiple reasons for risks of patients suffering from mental and behavioural disorders need to be further investigated.

• Klíčová slova
• alcoholism, at-risk drivers, epilepsy, mental and behavioural disorders, traffic accidents,
• MeSH
• dopravní nehody statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• duševní poruchy epidemiologie   MeSH
• epilepsie epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci nervového systému epidemiologie   MeSH
• pacienti ambulantní statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• poruchy spojené s užíváním psychoaktivních látek epidemiologie   MeSH
• řízení motorových vozidel statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• rozložení podle pohlaví MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• věkové rozložení MeSH
• zločin statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In the Czech Republic, 1 500 suicides are committed in average per year approximately. Only in a small percentage has been used vehicle as a tool. Prove suicidal intent in a fatal road accident has been difficult, but mostly these accidents have similar characteristics - impact with tree or similar fixed obstacle, non - use of seat belt, absence of brake traces, etc. The aim of this paper is to present and analyse two almost identical traffic accidents - identical location, identical vehicle type. While one of these was fatal (but not proven suicide), the second accident was not fatal, but with suicidal intent. Data were obtained as a part of the Czech In-depth Study conducted by Transport Research Centre. Data from In-depth Accident Analysis provide a comprehensive view of all the factors related to a particular accident and serve to identify the characteristics leading to the crash occurrence.

• Klíčová slova
• accident analysis, case report, case study, suicide, traffic accident,
• MeSH
• bezpečnostní pásy sedadel MeSH
• dopravní nehody * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• sebevražda * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

Traffic calming (TC) has been applied widely for several decades, although approaches to evaluating its effects on speeds have been inconsistent. This resulted in limited comparable and robust evidence to support practitioner guidance for TC design. To fill this gap and suggest best practices for the evaluation of TC effects on speeds, we performed a systematic review of 158 publications. We distilled information related to five research questions: Which measurement sensor was used? How was speed measured? Was free-flow speed considered? What was the sampling density? How were sample considerations reported? In addition to coding the studies based on these research questions, we rated them based on scientific robustness. The review confirmed the inconsistent state of evaluation practice. Most common evaluation approaches employed static detectors, low levels of control for bias (simple before-after), and unknown survey periods. The review found that the most robust evaluation practices involved multivariate before-after or cross-sectional study designs, used dynamic measurement of speeds (e.g., probe vehicles, simulations), large samples of vehicles, and more precise evaluation of speed changes using speed-distance graphs. These findings could guide more consistent and robust evaluation practice, and thus help to improve evidence-based TC guidance for creating safer and more sustainable neighborhoods.

• Klíčová slova
• Best practice, Evaluation, Road safety, Speed management, Traffic calming,
• MeSH
• bezpečnost MeSH
• dopravní nehody * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• systematický přehled MeSH

BACKGROUND: Allowing contraflow cycling on one-way streets has been reported to reduce crash risks in Belgium and the United Kingdom. Similarly, walking against traffic on roadways without sidewalks substantially improves pedestrian safety. This study examined fatalities and head injuries sustained by pedestrians in against-traffic and with-traffic crashes. METHODS: Using police-reported crash data in Taiwan between 2011 and 2016, fatalities and head injuries were compared for pedestrians involved in against-traffic and with-traffic crashes. RESULTS: Of the 14,382 pedestrians involved in crashes, 10,749 and 3633 pedestrians in with-traffic and against-traffic crashes, respectively, were reported. Compared with pedestrians involved in against-traffic crashes, those in with-traffic crashes were more likely to sustain fatalities and head injuries. Results of logistic regression models revealed several influential factors on pedestrian fatalities and head injuries, including elderly pedestrians, male drivers, intoxicated drivers, rural roadways, unlit streets in darkness, limited sight distance, adverse weather conditions, midnight hours, and a heavy vehicle as the crash partner. CONCLUSIONS: Pedestrians in with-traffic crashes were more likely to sustain fatalities and head injuries compared with those in against-traffic crashes. Furthermore, the negative effect of walking with traffic on injuries was more pronounced in reduced-visibility conditions.

• Klíčová slova
• Fatalities, Head injuries, Pedestrian crash, Walking against traffic, Walking with traffic,
• MeSH
• chodci statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• chůze statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• dopravní nehody mortalita   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kraniocerebrální traumata epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• policie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Taiwan epidemiologie   MeSH

From the National Registry of autopsies and toxicology examinations, we selected the deceased for 2015, 2016, 2017 and January 2018 active road accident participants, i.e. pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicle drivers. From these, we further selected those who were tested for THC presence. Of the 836 deceased active road accident participants, only 251 (i.e. 30%) were tested for cannabinoids, most often passenger car drivers, 46 percent. Of the 251 people tested, THC was demonstrated in 12 (4.8%), most commonly motorcycle drivers (7.8%) and passenger car drivers (3.4%). Of the 12 positive people, 7 were found to have a possible effect of THC ingestion on the road accident, but only one participant was found to have overdosed on THC, and 2 were reported by the dissecting physician to have had no effect on the accident. In the Czech Republic, when driving under the influence of addictive substances, there is no uniform procedure for qualification, whether it is an offence or an offence, and thus in the award of punishment. While somewhere there is an effort to divide this wrongdoing into offences and crimes, elsewhere it practically always only constitutes an offense. This situation seeks to resolve the instruction of the Attorney-at-chief 1 SL 732/2018 of 29 December 4.2019, which, however, arose without any discussion with the professional public, which is heavily criticized especially for the absurly high limits, which in particular in morphine and cocaine are practically unachievable. At the time of this writing, the impact of this guideline on practice is not clear.

• Klíčová slova
• National Registry of autopsies and toxicology examinations, THC, effect of THC on drivers, penalties in traffic, traffic accident,
• MeSH
• dopravní nehody * mortalita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• motocykly MeSH
• řízení motorových vozidel * MeSH
• tetrahydrokanabinol MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• tetrahydrokanabinol MeSH

• Klíčová slova
• ACCIDENTS, TRAFFIC *, CHILD *, MORTALITY *,
• MeSH
• dětská úmrtnost * MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dopravní nehody * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mortalita * MeSH
• úrazy a nehody * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Československo MeSH

The content of this paper is the evaluation of data related to alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol) and drugs in deceased active participants of traffic accidents for the years 2016-2021 obtained from the National Registry of Autopsies and Toxicological Examinations performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine and their comparison with the data of the Police Presidium of the Czech Republic. The sample included 2,715 deceased active road users, and their required data is available in both these sources. Only 72% of them were tested for alcohol, of whom 24% were found to have a blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.2 g/kg. Toxicological testing for substances other than alcohol was carried out in only 49% of the whole research file. Some substance from the list of addictive substances was detected in 120 deceased active road users (9% of those toxicologically examined). The concentration of these substances reached values affecting the ability to drive safely in 7 persons and excluding the ability to drive safely in 11 persons. The low percentage of toxicological tests carried out may be partly explained by the fact that in some cases the persons concerned may have survived for a certain period of time when toxicological testing was no longer considered relevant. Since there were no persons in our cohort who died more than 24 hours after death, we consider such reasoning to be not entirely correct. Therefore, we believe that the low number of examinations is mainly due to an attempt to save funds when toxicological examination was not required by the Police of the Czech Republic (if a forensic autopsy was ordered at all). The Police of the Czech Republic does not keep statistics on the presence of alcohol or other addictive substances in road accident deaths, but only in those who are at fault in road accidents. Data from the Police Presidium of the Czech Republic show that in 2016-2021, 57 persons were killed in traffic accidents where drugs were detected in the culprit in the accident. However, in our cohort, narcotic and psychotropic substances were detected in the blood (blood serum) of 120 deceased active participants of traffic accidents. This could be explained by the fact that at least 63 deceased active road users who were found to have narcotic and psychotropic substances were not at fault for the accident in which they died. However, a much more likely explanation is that the statistics of the Police Presidium of the Czech Republic are far from recording all culprits in the accident who are under the influence of drugs. This will especially apply to drivers who died in an accident that they were at fault for and when the police often did not order a forensic autopsy and thus a toxicological examination. In practice, toxicological examination of deceased active participants in traffic accidents applied only selectively means a significant distortion of statistical data on the presence of alcohol or addictive substances in the deceased, which may affect not only the actions of executive power (especially the Police of the Czech Republic) towards road transport participants, but also the policy of the legislature in the Czech Republic in matters of drugs specifically in transport, but also in general. Insurance companies should also have an interest in compulsory testing for the presence of alcohol and addictive substances. The insurer has the right to reduce the insurance payment if the injury is the result of alcohol or substance abuse. In particular, the basis for whether the insurer should reduce the benefit and to what extent is the sending of a final decision by a law enforcement agency. However, if that authority does not order a toxicological examination and does not know the result, it shall inform the insurer that no alcohol or addictive substances have been detected and the insurer shall pay in full.

• Klíčová slova
• Drugs, National Registry of autopsies and toxicology examinations, active participant in a traffic accident, addictive substances, alcohol, fatal traffic accident –National Register of Autopsies and Toxicological Examinations, narcotics and psychotropic substances, police statistics,
• MeSH
• dopravní nehody MeSH
• ethanol MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• narkotika MeSH
• obsah alkoholu v krvi MeSH
• poruchy spojené s užíváním psychoaktivních látek * epidemiologie   MeSH
• psychotropní léky MeSH
• řízení motorových vozidel * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ethanol MeSH
• narkotika MeSH
• obsah alkoholu v krvi MeSH
• psychotropní léky MeSH