Ethical Approach to Road Traffic Injuries Prevention

Abstract

"Road traffic injuries are widespread public health problem, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, being the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. Road injury ranks 8th after the main causes of death, and unless there will not be a complex approach to prevention those will rank 5th by 2030. The Republic of Moldova is characterized by a high mortality due to road crashes, children and adults over 50 years are more prone to injury or a road crashes and the age group 15-39 years there is a higher risk of death as driver or passenger in a transport unit. Road traffic injuries can be prevented, and many government interventions, policies and programs have been proposed in order to prevent road injuries, but their prevention was less approached by applying and respecting ethical aspects among all the participants in traffic. Each one involved in the road traffic can contribute in improving the road safety by his/her responsibility, which refers to consciousness, morality, ethics and ethical behavior, culture. Drivers and pedestrian have the moral duty while driving to use seat belt, comply with road traffic rules and safety requirements and have duty not to harm- to avoid putting themselves and others in danger. We need much more understandings of the behavior risk factors, increasing psychological capacity and benefits, investing in educational campaigns, effective communication, social support, and encouragement, increase awareness of responsibility in traffic and increasing respect for all participants in traffic, without causing any harm. Acknowledgement: Rosamond Rhodes, Ph.D., Professor of Medical Education, Director of Bioethics Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA. "