Driver's education may reduce annual incidence and severity of moped and scooter accidents. A population-based study

Background and aimsIn our previous study, the annual number of adolescents treated at Helsinki Children's Hospital and Töölö Trauma Centre for injuries from moped and scooter accidents increased five-fold between 2002 and 2007. In June 2011, the requirements for a moped/scooter license changed to include driver's education and a vehicle handling evaluation. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the influence of legislative changes on moped and scooter related serious injuries in adolescents.Patients and methodsData from 520 patients (age 15-16) treated for trauma from moped and scooter accidents at our institutions between January 2008 and December 2013 were included. Case numbers were compared with population data from national databases. Overall incidence, trauma mechanism, injury profile, and proportion of patients requiring hospital admission were calculated for time periods before and after the law amendment.ResultsAfter the law change in 2011, the annual incidence of moped/scooter injuries among 15-year-olds in our area decreased from 0.8% in 2011 to 0.3% in 2013 (p < 0.001), and estimated incidence of injuries per new moped/scooter license declined from 1.8% in 2011 to 1.0% in 2013 (p = 0.001). Simultaneously, proportions of patients injured in collisions, diagnosed with multiple trauma or requiring in-patient care reduced.ConclusionsA change in moped/scooter license requirements may have a causal relationship with both reduced number and severity of moped/scooter related injuries in adolescents.