The author outlines the difficulties of comparing accident figures from different countries but goes on to present tables of the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists killed in countries throughout the world. The results for cycling are interpreted and found to vary with conditions, car dependency and various measures taken in each country. Pedestrian deaths are considered and a formula derived for the number of pedestrian deaths expected for a country with a given number of cars. Child pedestrian accidents are examined in further detail and the effect of policies on play streets, safe routes to school and school crossing patrols assessed. In the 10-14 age group Great Britain and Yugoslavia are particularly dangerous places. Traffic speed is an important factor in the safety of pedestrians with impacts at less than 31 mph likely to be survived and over 34 mph likely to be lethal. It has been suggested that a reduction from 60 km/h to 50km/h might reduce fatalities by 28% and evidence from Denmark supports this. The author concludes that specific safety measures that have been introduced in various countries for different types and age of road user have been successful. Some countries have done more than others - Japan has had a spectacular success rate, South Africa has done very little. Safety records are not due to some imitable national characteristic but to policies which may well be of use elsewhere in the world.
Samenvatting