Outcomes of road traffic injuries before and after the implementation of a camera ticketing system: a retrospective study from a large trauma center in Saudi Arabia.
Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are the third leading cause of death in Saudi Arabia. Because speed is a major risk factor for severe crash-related injuries, a camera ticketing system was implemented countrywide in mid-2010 by the traffic police in an effort to improve traffic safety. There are no published studies on the effects of the system in Saudi Arabia.



To examine injury severity and associated mortality at a large trauma center before and after the implementation of the ticketing system.



Retrospective, analytical.



Trauma center of a tertiary care center in Riyadh.



The study included all trauma registry patients seen in the emergency department for a crash-related injury (automobile occupants, pedestrians, or motorcyclists) between January 2005 and December 2014. Associations with outcome measures were assessed by univariate and multivariate methods.



Injury severity score (ISS), Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and mortality.



The study included all trauma registry patients seen in the emergency department for a crash-related injury. All health outcomes improved in the period following implementation of the ticketing system. Following implementation, ISS scores decreased (-3.1, 95% CI -4.6, -1.6) and GCS increased (0.47, 95% CI 0.08, 0.87) after adjusting for other covariates. The odds of death were 46% lower following implementation than before implementation. When the data were log-transformed to account for skewed data distributions, the results remained statistically significant.



This study suggests positive health implications following the implementation of the camera ticketing system. Further investment in public health interventions is warranted to reduce preventable RTIs.



The study findings represent a trauma center at a single hospital in Riyadh, which may not generalize to the Saudi population.
Dr. Suliman Abdulah Alghnam, King Abdulah International Research Center (KAIMRC), Population Health, PO Box 22490,, Riyadh, 11426, Saudi Arabia,, T: 0539468887, ghnams@ngha.med.sa, ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5817-0481.
Suliman
S
Alghnam
Muhamad
M
Alkelya
Moath
M
Alfraidy
Khalid
K
Al-Bedah
Ibrahim Tawfiq
IT
Albabtain
Omar
O
Alshenqeety
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult