Road safety in the Eastern Mediterranean Region – findings from the Global Road Safety Status Report

H Soori

doi:10.26719/2011.17.10.770

Abstract

A secondary data analysis using the Global Status Report on Road Safety (GSRRS) was carried out to assess the epidemiology of road traffic injuries (RTIs) and preventive strategies in the Eastern Mediterranean egion (EMR). EMR countries ranked equal first in the world for the highest number of fatalities due to RTIs (32.2 per 100 000 population). The region had about 4% of the world's vehicles with 0.097 registered vehicles per person. The number of injured cases in EMR was 210.1 per 100 000 population. Only 15% of EMR countries had a funded, independent, multisectoral body for road safety. Only 25% had mandatory seat-belt laws for both front-seat and rear-seat passengers, 60% had mandatory helmet laws for both drivers and passengers of motorized two-wheelers and 10% had child restraint laws. Road safety in EMR countries needs more attention and consideration.

Highlights

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a serious public health problem in different regions of the world
According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety (GSRRS) about 62% of reported road traffic deaths occur in 10 countries of the world out of which 2 are in Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR)
The number of scientific reports on road traffic injuries (RTIs) in EMR is limited compared to most of the developed countries and this paper aims to present the epidemiological pattern of RTIs in this region and compare the results for the EMR Member States and the global status of RTIs as a whole

Summary

Introduction

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a serious public health problem in different regions of the world. More than 90% of deaths from RTIs occur in low- and middle-income countries, which only have 48% of the world’s vehicles [1]. According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety (GSRRS) about 62% of reported road traffic deaths occur in 10 countries of the world out of which 2 are in EMR. It is very important to take steps to address the global assessment of road safety, to have regular comparisons on a number of indicators between different years and countries, and present epidemiological data on RTIs for better policy-making as well as a more effective road traffic injury prevention plan [1]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion