Spine injuries down 50% since penalty points began

THE number of road accident victims treated at the National Spinal Injuries Unit has dropped by half in the first six months of the penalty points system.

A study carried out at the Mater Hospital-based unit found 17 patients were admitted between November 2002 and April 2003, compared to 34 for the same period in 2001-2002.

The single biggest monthly fall was from 10 in December 2002 to three last December. The only increase was in March 2003, when six people were admitted, compared to three the previous year.