THE IMPACT OF NON-PHARMACEUTICAL COVID-19 INTERVENTIONS ON ROAD SAFETY ACROSS QUEBEC
Authors:   Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Canada, Nazif-Munoz José Ignacio , Batomen Brice ,   Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Canada, Brown Thomas Gordon , Correa Matias Pereira Camila ,   Federal University of São João del-Rei, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing International, Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Université de Sherbrooke, Université du Québec à Montréal, Cloutier Marie-Soleil ,   Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Québec City, Canada, Giroux Claude ,   Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, Societe de l'assurance automobile du Quebec, Université Laval, Université de Montréal, Mamri Asma , Najafi Moghaddam Gilani Vahid ,   Amayesh Sarzamin research group at Guilan University, Azad University, Bandar Anzali Branch, Guilan ATEC Consultants, Iran University of Science and Technology, Latom Asphalt company, Pardaraz Gilan, University of Guilan, Université de Sherbrooke, Ouimet Marie Claude ,   Institut national de santé publique du Québec Montréal, Paquet Cynthia , Tremblay Joël ,   Department of Psychoeducation of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Turmel Émilie , Vanlaar Ward ,   Belgisch Instituut voor de Verkeersveiligheid vzw, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - Campus Brussel, Traffic Injury Research Foundation, Universiteit Gent, Universiteit Hasselt, University of Ottawa, Université d'Ottawa
Published: July 2024

The association between non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 (NP-COVID-19) interventions, which aimed to regulate public behaviour to curb the spread of COVID-19, and road safety has become a significant focus in understanding the unintended consequences of the pandemic. This study concentrates on 17 administrative units to assess the impact of NP-COVID-19 interventions on traffic injuries, and fatalities. Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted from 2015 to 2022, using daily traffic fatality and injury data per 100.000 population. A COVID-19 NP interventions index for Quebec (QCnPI-Index) was created based on 58 interventions implemented from March 2020 to July 2022 in each administrative unit. The association between QCnPI-Index and the two outcomes was mixed. Outaouais, Laval and Laurentides were the only regions where traffic fatalities were significantly reduced. Decreases by 97% (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR]: 0.03, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]): 0.01,0.62), 99.0% (IRR: 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00,0.27) and 88% (IRR: 0.12, 95% CI:0.02,0.58) were observed respectively. Traffic light injuries significant reductions, except for Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec, were observed in 15 regions. The highest reduction of traffic injuries was observed in Laval with a 76% decrease (IRR: 0.24, 95% CI:0.17,0.34). The findings underscore the complex relationship between NP-COVID-19 interventions and road safety, emphasizing the need for comprehensive efforts to understand their diverse effects. Further investigation is warranted to comprehend the discrepancy in the reduction of fatalities compared to injuries. This study highlights the importance of exploring additional factors, such as road safety interventions and analysing specific road users like pedestrians and cyclists, to better understand the impact of NP-COVID-19 interventions on road safety.