Road traffic injuries in general and pedestrian injuries in particular are a major public health problem in Mauritius. Current road safety programs are inadequate given the magnitude of the problem. The main purpose of this study is to present the road traffic injury problem in Mauritius, with a view to identify priority groups which might be considered in order to shape future road safety interventions. Moreover, a research survey was undertaken to measure current status regarding public's attitudes, knowledge and self-reported behaviour related to road safety and road safety interventions in Mauritius. Data reported on road traffic crashes in the period 1994-2004 from the Central Statistics Office, the Police Road Safety Unit and the Ministry of Health were reviewed. The burden of road traffic injuries in Mauritius is rising, with at least three people killed weekly. The age group most affected is 21-40 years followed by 41-50 years. Pedestrians are the most frequently injured road users in Mauritius. On average, they represented 36 per cent of all crash victims killed between 1994 to 2004, whereas passengers accounted for 20 per cent, drivers 12 per cent, riders 24 per cent and pedal cyclists 8 per cent. Absolute number of crashes, fatalities and injuries as well as fatality rates per 100,000 population and 10,000 vehicles were used as indices to measure trends. The economic cost of road accidents has been estimated in 1999 to be just over 1.5 billion rupees yearly ( USD 43 million). The major findings of the research are as follows: Compared to other categories of road users, pedestrians have been most frequently injured and killed on roads in Mauritius. Road traffic injuries still pose a major threat to the well-being of Mauritian society. There is still a high rate of crashes, injuries and fatalities per 100,000 population. 72 per cent of the respondents described road travel in Mauritius as fairly safe. Excessive speed and drink driving are widely acknowledged as a major contributing factor to road accidents and were mentioned as such by 91 per cent and 89 per cent of the respondents. 49 per cent of the respondents are agreeable that the existing speed limit of 50 km/h in residential areas be lowered to 40 km/h (A). For the covering ab see ITRD E217780.
Samenvatting