The total death toll of traffic accidents has been steadily decreasing thanks to the efforts of both public and private sectors to introduce more effective safety measures, such as tougher penalties for serious offenses by amending the Road Traffic Act, the promotion of safety education, improvements in road traffic environment, and a review of vehicle safety standards. While there has been a remarkable decline in the number of deaths of drivers/riders, however, only a slight decline has been achieved in the number of those killed while walking, with senior pedestrians aged 65 and older in particular constituting a remarkably large group. In 2009, about 25%, or one in four, of all traffic fatalities was made up of senior pedestrians, with 1,202 deaths. Given this downward trend in the number of traffic fatalities, why are elderly people much more likely to be killed while walking? Based on our consolidated database for traffic accidents, analysis has revealed that many of them are typically involved in traffic accidents while crossing the road at nighttime. This issue of ITARDA Information also examines the effect of reflectors for pedestrians, which are expected to reduce nighttime fatal accidents involving the elderly. Reflectors have not been so widely used so far, but we expect people of all ages, not just the elderly, to use reflectors, which are shown to be highly effective in preventing nighttime traffic accidents. (Author/publisher)
Abstract