World Should Adopt Car Free Culture to Halt Death & Injury on Roads

Note:In order to deal with road traffic deaths that are predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death in the world causing an estimated 2.4 million deaths each year, it important to explore the idea of car-free culture.

Road traffic deaths compelled the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution proclaiming a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 (A/64/255) with the aim to save lives by halting the increasing trends in road traffic deaths and injuries world-wide in March, 2010.

It has been borne out by experience that being car-free is liberating if one takes into account the power imbalance when one shares the road with cars. It ensures personal safety and if the idea catches on, will prevent road accident injuries and deaths.

There is need for policy support towards a lively car-free culture. The policy makers should resist the disproportionate influence of car manufacturers in order to make car free practice, a mainstream act and contribute towards the long-term sustainability of transportation besides halting death and injury on roads.

Gopal Krishna
Occupational Health India

World unites to halt death and injury on roads

Almost 1.3 million people die each year on the world's roads, making this the ninth leading cause of death globally and approximately 3000 deaths every day. In addition, road crashes cause between 20 million and 50 million non-fatal injuries every year many of them leads to disability.

Ninety percent of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, which claim less than half the world's registered vehicle fleet.
Road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of death for young people.

Unless immediate and effective action is taken, road traffic deaths are predicted to rise to 1.9 million per year by 2020 and by 2030, it will become the fifth leading cause of death in the world, resulting in an estimated 2.4 million deaths each year.

Considering the issue, in March, 2010 The UN General Assembly resolution proclaimed a Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 (A/64/255) with the aim to save lives by halting the increasing trends in road traffic deaths and injuries world-wide.
As a part of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, governments commit to take new steps to save lives on their roads.

Global launch of decade will be on 11th May, 2011, with launching of National Events in each and every part of world.

The Road Safety Tag has been adopted as the official symbol for the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which aims to reduce road deaths and injuries across the world.

Source:Listserve of Occupational Health India, Dr. Ashish Trivedi, MD(PSM),DIH