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ACCIDENTS

IMPROVING ROAD INFRA
The IRF report had highlighted the important
role of safe infrastructure and safe vehicles
in reducing road traffic injuries. Road infrastruc-
ture is mainly constructed with the needs of
motorists in mind, although the report indicates
that 49 per cent of all road traffic deaths occur
among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Real, sustained successes at reducing global
road traffic deaths will only happen when road
design takes into consideration the needs of all
road users.
Making walking and cycling safer is also
important to support other moves to reduce
carbon emissions and increase physical activ-
ity. While vehicles in high-income countries are
increasingly safe, the report provides worry-
ing data showing that less than half of countries
implement minimum standards on vehicle safe-
ty, and that these standards are notably absent in
many of the large middle income countries that
are major car manufacturers.

EMERGENCY CARE
would be unsafe. It is important that local A total of 99% of road Lack of emergency care and gross dis-
authorities not only have the legal au- parities in injury outcomes between
thority to reduce national limits, but also traffic deaths occur high-income countries and low- and
to manage local speeds according to par- middle-income countries explains why
ticular road situations and in conjunction in low- and middle- India accounts for most accident deaths.
with other traffic calming or speed man- income countries, a This directly relates to the level of care
agement policies. Such legal authority received immediately post-crash, and
may be spelled out within the road traffic report by International later in a health-care facility. Some esti-
act itself, or in regulations, decrees or oth- Road Federation points mate that if trauma care systems for seri-
er legal documents beyond those relating ously injured patients in low and middle-
to road traffic. out. These nations income countries could be brought up to
also account for 82% the levels of high performing countries,
SEAT BELTS an estimated half a million lives could be
Seat-belts limit the movement of vehicle of the world’s saved each year.
occupants in the event of a crash, dispers- population, it adds Quality of care at scene of the
ing the force of the restraint to reduce crash too matters a lot. In high-in-
the likelihood of serious or fatal injury. come countries, delivering emer-
They work as part of the wider occupant restraint system that gency care at the scene of the collision and getting crash
includes airbags, seats, head rests and the vehicle structure victims quickly to a health-care facility is often performed
itself. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of a fatality among by professionally trained providers using sophisticated
drivers and front-seat occupants by 45–50 per cent, and equipment and designated vehicles. However, in low-in-
the risk of minor and serious injuries by 20 per cent and 45 come countries, lay people such as community leaders,
per cent respectively. Among rear seat occupants seat belts police, or taxi drivers who are trained in basic injury care and
reduce fatal and serious injuries by 25 per cent and minor in- the coordination of transportation to a health-care facility can
juries by up to 75 per cent. Wearing a seat belt also significantly also fulfill these roles.
decreases the risk of being thrown from the vehicle in the event The most efficient way to activate an emergency response
of a crash. is through a universal, centralized access number with cen-
Seat-belts and child restraints are extremely effective at tral dispatch. However, when universal access numbers are
saving the lives of car occupants in the event of a crash. Ensur- unavailable (under development or during disasters), partial
ing that vehicle manufacturers fit seat-belts and the fixtures measures to facilitate access include simple mechanisms
necessary for child restraints is therefore critical to reducing to advise patients on the nearest facility and transport
road traffic fatalities. options.

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