Governments need to get tougher on road safety, says WHO

Governments need to get tougher on road safety, says WHO

Manila, 9 May 2011 - The World Health Organization (WHO) today called on governments to come to grips with the problem of traffic accidents as the number of people killed or injured on roads continues to climb, particularly in developing countries.

"Many countries see traffic accidents as an inevitable part of everyday life, but they're not," said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO's Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "These accidents are predictable and can often be prevented. But to do that, you need commitment and informed decision-making by governments, industry, nongovernmental organizations and international agencies."

In a statement to mark the launch on 11 May of the United Nation's Decade of Action for Road Safety, Dr Shin said: "Many countries lack appropriate legislation, and even if they do have the laws, enforcement is lacking."

The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the period 2011–2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety with the aim of stabilizing and then reducing road deaths by 2020.

It is estimated that about 300 000 people die on the road each year in the Western Pacific Region, home to nearly 1.8 billion people. Millions are injured, some of them left disabled for life. Traffic injuries are the leading cause of death and disability among people aged between 15 and 44 years.

For families, the consequences can be poverty caused by having to pay for prolonged medical care of an injured loved one or by the loss of a breadwinner. Road accident survivors and their families and friends often suffer adverse social, physical and psychological effects. For countries, the economic cost can be up to 4% of gross national product (GDP).

WHO said the number of road accidents in the Western Pacific can be expected to increase as growing prosperity allows more and more people to purchase their own form of transport, making roads more congested. "There is no time to waste," said
Dr Shin. "Governments should act now."

ENDS

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