21/08/2020

Seminar "Alcohol Consumption and Road Safety"

During the seminar, organized by the Gonzalo Rodriguez Foundation and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the advances of a study that analyzes the link between road accidents and alcohol consumption were presented, with the objective of contributing to public debate and awareness on the subject.

Among the most relevant aspects presented was, for example, the reduction in the number of drivers with alcohol in accidents since the implementation in 2016 of Law No. 19,360, which established the so-called "zero alcohol" as a condition for driving vehicles. In 2014 the results of spirometry in traffic accidents showed that 2,058 drivers had alcohol in their blood, while in 2019 this figure dropped to 821 drivers.

Present at the seminar were Dr. Giovanni Escalante, PAHO/WHO representative for Uruguay; Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, President of the Gonzalo Rodriguez Foundation; PAHO Regional Advisor on Road Safety, Dr. Eugenia Rodrigues; PAHO Advisor on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Specialist in Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Dr. Maristela Monteiro; Dr. Alejandro Morlachetti, PAHO Legal Advisor; and Dr. Fernando Machado, Director of the Emergency Department of the Hospital de Clínicas. On behalf of the national authorities, Dr. Miguel Asqueta, General Director of Health - Ministry of Public Health and Sc. Héctor Suárez, Head of the Uruguayan Drug Observatory - National Drug Board participated.

"From the Gonzalo Rodríguez Foundation we continue working to present the necessary evidence that, together with the knowledge of national and international experts, will collaborate to have a positive discussion on the subject", affirmed María Fernanda Rodríguez.

According to the conclusions of the latest UNASEV Road Accident Report, since 2011 there has been a downward trend in the mortality rate, reaching the lowest level ever recorded in 2019. Motorcyclists and young people continue to be the most vulnerable actors, and alcohol remains an important factor in the critical period of the week (between Fridays at 8 pm and Sundays at 8 am), where positive spirometry triples on Saturdays and quintuples on Sundays.

Download the seminar presentations

Seminario

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