Via practica 1/2025
Road traffic deaths among adolescents in Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Ireland
Background: Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults. Aims: To determine the incidence of adolescent road traffic fatal injuries in some European countries. Methods: Retrospective reviews of road traffic fatal injuries for adolescents in Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Ireland for comparison were performed from January 2007 to December 2020. The results were compared with similarly populated European countries. Results: Subsequently, the number of deaths of adolescents (18–24 years); 2007–2020 were compared. For testing, a parametric test to compare the dependent groups was again used – ANOVA for repeated measurements. Within the data, we also had a violated assumption of sphericity in this case (Mauchly’s W = 0.102, p = 0.002). Therefore, we used the Greenhouse-Geisser correction when calculating the ANOVA. Results of ANOVA test showed that there were statistically significant differences in the mean value between the groups (SK, DK, FI, NO and IE). The number of deaths of adolescents aged 18–24 varied significantly between countries (F (2.312, 30.061) = 6.917, p = 0.002). The magnitude of the test effect was significant. Conclusion: Implementing a strict European safety rules like speed limit of 50 km/h in built-up areas, enforcing the use of seat belts, restricting alcohol and narcotic tolerant 0%, safety equipment controls and airbags, limiting the use of mobile phone controls in moving vehicles in 2009–2010 was reduce injuries in Slovakia Denmark, Finland Norway and Ireland. The lowest number of adolescents’ deaths in five countries was in Slovakia in 2020.
Keywords: road traffic accidents, adolescence, road traffic fatal injuries, incidence, European safety rules
