Level of and change in road traffic mortality in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico, 2000-2011

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of run-over fatalities and traffic collisions in life expectancy in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico, between 2000 and 2011. Years of life expectancy lost (YLEL) were calculated for the periods 2000-2002 and 2009-2011. The results show that road traffic deaths made up between 1% and 4% of all deaths in each country. In the first period, the highest level of mortality occurred in Colombia (YLEL=0.96) and the lowest in Argentina (YLEL=0.59). In all the countries studied except Argentina, the impact of these deaths on life expectancy was reduced in the second period. The main change took place in Colombia, reaching 0.72 YLEL in the second period. It is concluded that traffic-related deaths have a negative impact on health systems, victims, the productive sector, and society in general. From this point of view, the issue of road transit must be considered a matter of public health, requiring multi-sector intervention in the design of national and regional policies.