Because road-traffic accidents are the world's ninth chief cause of death and these figures are expected to double by 2020, world leaders convened in February 2003 in an effort to improve safety on the roads and alleviate traffic deaths. Studies reveal that developing countries have only 40% of all vehicles and 86% of all traffic deaths, which are generally pedestrians, cyclists, and users of public transportation. The greatest increase in traffic fatalities each year occurs in developing countries, with pedestrian collisions in the dark recording the highest number of fatalities. The primary obstacles for improving road safety are considered to be ignorance about the magnitude of the problem and its preventability. The article gives information on World Health Day, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has dedicated the 2004 observance to "Safe Roads." The article also gives a brief overview of the joint WHO/World Bank World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention, which will be launched on World Heath Day 2004.
Samenvatting