The impact of COVID‐19‐related national lockdowns on alcohol‐related traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities in Lithuania.

Background: The national lockdowns that occurred all over the world in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic have been found to have impacted alcohol use. The aim was to evaluate the impact of COVID‐19‐related national lockdowns on alcohol‐related traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities in Lithuania. Methods: Using monthly data from the Lithuanian Road Police Service for January 2004 to December 2022, we performed interrupted time‐series analyses using a generalized additive model to evaluate the impact of COVID‐19‐related national lockdowns on alcohol‐related traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities. In Lithuania, the COVID‐19‐related lockdowns occurred from March 2020 to June 2020 and from November 2020 to June 2021. Results: Although overall rates for traffic collisions and injuries decreased during the COVID‐19‐related lockdowns in Lithuania, these lockdowns were associated with a 3.21% (95% CI: 1.19%, 5.23%) increase in the relative proportion of alcohol‐related traffic collisions and a 2.46% (95% CI: 0.12%, 4.80%) increase in the relative proportion of alcohol‐related traffic injuries. The association between the lockdowns and alcohol‐related traffic fatalities was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The COVID‐19‐related national lockdowns in Lithuania were associated with a decrease in the overall rate of traffic collisions and injuries, but an increase in the relative proportion of alcohol‐related traffic collisions and injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]