Citation

Ebrahimpour A, Beyraghi N, Chegini MH. Neurosci. J. Shefaye Khatam 2016; 3(4): e6.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam-Alanbia Hospital)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Road traffic accidents (RTA) are one of the most important causes of death and disability all over the world. In developing countries the problem is more complicated. Based on the estimation by UNICEF, rate of RTA in Iran is 20 times more than world's average. In Iran among all unintentional fatal injuries inflicted on children under five, traffic related fatalities are the leading cause of death. By the year 2020 road crashes will rank ahead of cancer and behind only part disease and depression in times of life years. Globally RTA is the second leading cause of death for young people aged 5-25 years. There is an international consensus that a combination of public education, law enforcement and changing infrastructures are necessary to reduce the rate of RTA and its detrimental effects. Public education is cost effective and should be performed in setting of schools; Media, community centers, NGOs and especially religious gatherings as these ceremonies has considerable impact in culture and behavior in developing countries. In addition, the education should be included road safety officers, institutions, children and parents, sponsors and government and police. Law enforcement seems not to be cost effective and can be achieved by reinforcing and/or aversiveness in association with persuasion and punishment. Monitoring using police officers and modern systems of road control such as traffic cameras are necessary to ensure respecting the laws. Although changing infrastructures imposes a high financial burden on the society in short-term, but it will be a cost effective approach in long-term evaluation. Measures to improve road design and infrastructure include separating different types of traffic, providing safer road for pedestrians and cyclists, building pavements and recognizable crossing structures for pedestrians, reducing traffic speeds by constructing speed bumps, rumble strips and roundabouts.

Language: en