@article{ref1,
title="Road traffic accidents in Italy during COVID-19",
journal="Traffic injury prevention",
year="2022",
author="Valent, Francesca",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the number and severity of road traffic accidents in Italy in 2020, in particular after the beginning of COVID-19 and during the lockdown, as compared with 2019, with monthly details and geographical variations within the country. <br><br>METHODS: Official monthly data on road traffic accidents recorded by the Police in Italy in 2020 were compared with those in 2019. The comparison regarded number of accidents, percent change, non-fatal injuries, deaths, injury index (injuries/accidents ×100) and fatality index (deaths/accidents ×100). Monthly data were graphically presented separately for each of the 21 Italian Regions and autonomous Provinces. <br><br>RESULTS: A steep generalized decrease in the number of road traffic accidents was observed in March and April 2020 (Italian lockdown) as compared with the corresponding months of 2019 (more than 70% change), with a smaller change in the number of deaths, more variable among Regions. Smaller decreases were observed in the following part of 2020. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In Italy, lockdown and limitation of mobility due to COVID-19 determined a strong decrease in the number of road traffic accidents and their health consequences. Inter-regional variability in the decrease of deaths might be associated with the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 local outbreak, although specific causes need to be investigated. These data are useful to inform traffic and public health policy makers.  Keywords: CoViD-19-Road-Traffic <p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1538-9588",
doi="10.1080/15389588.2022.2047956",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2022.2047956"
}