Citation

Steensberg J. J. Traffic Med. 1999; 27(1-2): 11-16.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Traditionally, traffic medicine has been oriented towards the prevention of road accidents. However, traffic activities do not only result in injuries and fatalities. Negative health effects result from noise and air pollution, and the psycho-social well being of urban populations is unfavorably affected. During the last decades these health effects have come high on the agenda but the medical profession has been slow in recognizing the importance of the influences of traffic on the health of the population. The paper recommends moving towards a holistic view of traffic medicine. There is a need for medical practitioners, university based scientists and public health administrators that are concerned with, and take part in, society's efforts to adapt our transportation systems in a direction that is minimizing not only the negative effects of our environment but also on the public's health.

Language: en

Keywords

Fatalities; Injuries; Safety; Air pollution; Public health; Social impacts; Psychological aspects; Noise; Medicine; Health hazards