Review of traffic safety in Latin America and Caribbean region : best practices, strategies and action plans. Prepared for the Inter-American Development Bank.

The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) recognising the growing traffic safety problems of its member countries commissioned a study to define more clearly the scale, nature and characteristics of the problem facing the Region and a separate study to recommend appropriate strategies and action plans to tackle the problem. These studies undertaken with the assistance of specialist UK safety consultants Ross Silcock Limited and the Transport Research Laboratory indicate a significant worsening of the problem and huge economic and social losses occurring to IDB member countries. Official reported statistics indicate that at least 55,000 persons are killed and around 600,000 are crippled or injured annually in traffic accidents in the developing countries of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region. Considerable under-reporting is suspected and the authors estimate that the total numbers of deaths and injuries are about double that shown in "official" statistics (this has been corroborated by in-depth studies and country visits undertaken by the Danish Roads Directorate). The "official' figures have been presented in this report but where appropriate, the authors have included their estimated figures (in brackets) to indicate the probable figures involved. Annual losses to the economies of these developing countries are now estimated to be at least US$ 15 billion per year. It is highly likely that such recurring annual losses are impeding the social and economic development of the LAC Region. During the decade 1986 - 1995, over 500,000 (1 million) persons have been killed and over 5 million (10 million) persons have been crippled or injured in traffic accidents in the LAC Region. What is even worse is that the present levels of motorisation and present growth in vehicle fleets means that the numbers of traffic accidents and traffic accident deaths are likely to continue to increase unless effective action is taken to address this urgent problem. If current trends continue there will be over 70,000 (140,000) deaths per year by 2005 and around 850,000 (1.7 million) more will be crippled or injured each year. Failure to take effective action will mean that 700,000 (1.4 million) persons will die and over 7.3 million (14.6 million) will be crippled or injured during the next decade. Actions can and should be taken to avoid some of these problems. Some of these actions need to be taken within the individual LAC countries and others require cooperative efforts across the Region. This report outlines the strategies and actions which can be taken to minimise future traffic safety problems in the Region. A separate report, presented in 2 volumes (for Volume 1 see ST 990838), presents current trends and likely future consequences and provides statistics on a CD ROM. This particular report is based on analyses of IDB Questionnaires, the inventory information included in the draft country reports produced by the Danish Roads Directorate, previous work undertaken and visits to several of the LAC countries by members of the Study Team and the authors experience of developing and implementing road safety interventions and Action Plans in over 40 countries around the world. It also draws from documentation and guidelines, Seminars, Conferences and Workshops aimed at improving safety issues in Developing Countries. There is no single unique solution to the problem and countries of the LAC Region need to learn lessons from other developed and developing countries before adapting and implementing solutions appropriate to their particular resources, circumstances and needs. This document suggests a way forward which draws on the knowledge/experiences of others and which builds on the strengths within the LAC Region. (A)