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April 7,  2004: World Health Day
Road Safety is No Accident
The World Health Organization has recognized road traffic injuries as a deadly scourge, taking the lives of 1.26 million men, women and children around the world in 2000. In addition 10 to 15 million people are injured every year; some become permanently disabled. The vast majority of these deaths and injuries occur in developing countries, among pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and users of public transport, many of whom would never be able to afford a private motor vehicle.
Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death by injury and the ninth leading cause of all deaths worldwide. Road traffic injuries are projected to become the third leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost worldwide by 2020, surpassed only by heart disease and major depression.
Although the number of automobiles per population is much higher in developed countries, about 90 per cent of all road traffic injury deaths occur in developing countries. Half of road fatalities worldwide involve adults aged 18 to 44 years, many of them heads of families.
This year, World Health Day will spread the word that traffic deaths and injuries can be prevented, with the theme Road Safety is No Accident.
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Safety Canada April 2004
OECD Child Injury Deaths
Road Safety a Global Priority
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