Road traffic injuries account for nearly 1.35 million deaths annually and many more people are left with severe injuries. Because road security is such an important factor for leading a safe life, it is part of the SDG “Good Health and Well Being”. The World Health Organization (WHO) understands that changes in driving laws could drastically reduce road casualties, which is why they believe that “addressing the risk of death in road traffic is fundamental to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”
It should not be ignored that the implications of road danger are not solely represented by those who lose their lives. For every reported person that dies in a road accident, there are on average 23 people who have been reported injured. These injuries can vary from minor cuts and bruises to severe amputations, yet both can still create a traumatic experience that mentally affects the victim. Disability associated with road traffic injuries contributes to a significant public health burden and economic loss since care for permanent disability from road traffic injuries accounts for 0.6-5.8 percent of the gross national product. Family and friends of the victim are also mentally harmed from losing their loved one, and this can sometimes lead to lifelong changes, especially for children.
Despite the lethal potential of vehicles, our society would not be nearly as developed as it is without the tremendous technological advancements within the transportation industry. For most people, cars or public transport make up a part of their daily routine and many people depend on it for their income. Implementing radical policies could cause serious consequences for these people, however, keeping the system unchanged results in even worse outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) created a plan to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from road accidents by 50%. They planned to meet this goal by 2020. Since 2010, six countries have changed laws to bring them into line with best practices on one or several of the five key risk factors of dangerous driving – speeding, drink-driving, non-use of motorcycle helmets, seatbelts, and child car restraints. Speed contributes to around one-third of all fatal road traffic crashes in high-income countries, and up to half in low and middle-income countries. While some countries in the WHO European Region have legislation in place addressing one or more of the five key risk factors, much more work must be done to enhance their enforcement.
Road safety is a global issue that must be addressed with policies and laws that regulate irresponsible actions to prevent severe damage, making a few minor changes to driving and pedestrian behaviour may one day prevent a catastrophe. On-road, it is absolutely imperative that the driver’s attention is not averted from the road. This could be by the passengers or by themselves, but it only takes a second for a disaster to occur. If someone is driving 50 km/h, looking away for 2 seconds translates to 30 metres of unattended driving, in which anything can happen. It is also vital that neither the passengers nor the driver becomes overconfident or lax with security. Some people spend most of their lives having never experienced a collision and this causes them to naturally feel over secure. This starts to reduce the number of precautions they take, despite these measures being the very factors that prevented potential crashes. Seatbelts reduce the risk of death in a crash by 61% when used correctly and at the cost of minor discomfort, they are most definitely required. As a pedestrian, there are also actions you can take to ensure safety since people not in a vehicle are just as much at risk as those driving. In 2013, about 40% of people who died as a result of road crashes in the WHO European Region were vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists. Just being more careful around roads is all it takes to prevent a life-changing disaster. Obviously, it is imperative to follow the basics of street walking like looking both ways before crossing a road and waiting for green traffic lights before crossing, but also recognizing where the optimal area to walk is, especially around cycle paths.
Fortunately, road accidents have seen an enormous decrease in the past few decades, and now with the involvement of WHO, more can be done to make sure these events occur as minimally as possible. Remember to drive safe!