The Inter American Development Bank (IDB), recognising the growing traffic accident problems of its client countries commissioned a study to define more clearly the scale, nature and characteristics of the problem facing the Region and a separate study to identify best practices and to recommend appropriate strategies and action plans to tackle the problem. These studies were undertaken with the assistance of specialist UK consultants Ross Silcock Limited and the Transport Research Laboratory. The studies indicate a worsening problem and large economic and social losses occurring to IDB member countries. Officially reported statistics show at least 55,000 persons are killed and over 600,000 are crippled or injured annually in the developing countries of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region. The authors however estimate that significant under-reporting occurs and that the correct numbers of casualties are about double those reported in "official" statistics (this has since been corroborated by in-depth studies and country visits undertaken by the Danish Roads Directorate). The official figures as reported 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 economic losses to the economies of these developing countries are now estimated to be at least US$ 15 billion per year (and could be as high as US$ 30 billion per year if losses in Brazil are extrapolated to the rest of the LAC Region). Recurring annual losses of such magnitude may be 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 road accidents in the LAC Region. Even worse, the present levels of motorisation and present growth in vehicle fleets mean that the numbers of road accidents and road 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 around 70,000 (140,000) deaths per year by 2005 and around 850,000 (1.7 million) more persons will be crippled or injured. On present trends an additional 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 (1996-2005) in the LAC Region unless this problem is addressed. This report is based on analyses of IDB questionnaires compiled into 2 volumes. This report (Volume 1) is an overview of trends and current activities and Volume 2 (not available) comprises tables of quantitative traffic safety data and an inventory of traffic safety activity in the LAC Region as reported by the countries who returned questionnaires. The authors recognise that there are still many omissions and discrepancies in the data on which the findings of this report have had to be based and would welcome any corrections, additional data or supplementary information to complete or improve accuracy of the database. Although incomplete and subject to considerable under-reporting, the data offers some insights into current trends and activities. The figures in brackets give the authors estimates of probable numbers of deaths and injuries. Where they have not already done so, LAC countries need to improve their databases so that the nature and characteristics of traffic safety problems in each county and throughout the Region can be better understood. This is best done if each individual country establishes a Nationwide accident data system and produces and disseminates widely an annual Road Accident Statistics Report to all interested parties. At Regional level it is important to agree a common definition of death (eg within 30 days of accident occurrence) and to collect and collate key items of data from each country to establish a Regional data base to facilitate international comparisons. An embryonic Regional database has been compiled as part of this study and after further data checking this could be expanded and consolidated as a Regional resource as more data becomes available. It should be made accessible to all LAC countries (e.g. via the Internet). Recommendations (on how safety could be improved in the LAC Region) have been made in a companion report covering Strategies, Best Practices and Action Plans for the LAC Region (see ST 990837). (A)
Samenvatting