ECMT countries cover too varied a range of geographical and socio economic factors (climatic and geographic conditions, composition of the road vehicle population, traffic engineering, presence of international and tourist traffic, density and quality of road system, quality of land use planning, population density, road user attitudes and behaviour, standard of living, etc.) for straightforward general comparisons. The tables presented are, however, sufficiently explicit for each country to be able to see how it stands in relation to the others and seek the reasons why. The comments on each table are intentionally short. An overall comparison of road risk levels can only be valid for countries with similar vehicle ownership ratios, i.e. number of motor vehicles per 1 000 population. Where car ownership ratios differ, the number of killed (death within 30 days) per million vehicles is an inadequate criterion for comparison because the curve plotted for deaths does not follow the same pattern as that for vehicles. While the volume of traffic (number of vehicles/km) is a better indicator of the risk involved, the above observation also applies in this case. Moreover, the data are either not available or insufficiently reliable in many countries. The most valid of the criteria available for comparison is the number of killed (death within 30 days) per million population. The differences to be noted between countries as regards the number of killed (death within 30 days) per million population do not necessarily mean that any given country's current road safety policy is better or worse. Such differences may also be attributable to the widely differing traffic conditions to which attention is drawn above. As regards some tables, mention is made of the precautionary measures to be taken when interpreting them so as to avoid drawing over hasty conclusions, and it is worthwhile recalling the main difficulties experienced when comparing accident statistics. This publication covers the year 2001. It winds up the series of “red publications” on road accidents which has existed since 1984. This CD is divided into two parts. The first part includes two PDF files (one in French and one in English) with the whole statistical report, i.e. a brief statistical analysis, statistical tables and individual country graphs. All statistical tables are available separately on the second part of this CD, in both PDF (Acrobat Reader) and Excel files. (Author/publisher)
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