Road Traffic Accidents as Public Health Challenge in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region
Journal Title: Public Health – Open Journal - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 3
Abstract
Road traffic accidents continue to be a major cause of death and disability, globally, causing about 1.25 million deaths annually since 2007.1 Not only are road traffic accidents among the leading causes of deaths among the age cohorts between 5 and 44 years, but also the economic effects of vehicular accidents are estimated to be in excess of $500 billion US.2 The magnitude and persistence of this public health challenge has been recognized by public health researchers, policy makers and advocates at the global level, resulting in a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly to give priority to road safety by declaring the Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020. Member states were required to implement plans to improve road safety by taking various measures at the national and local levels and report data to show progress toward the goals established. The WHO was enlisted to monitor progress on a National and Regional level, issuing global status reports on the effects of policy changes implemented. The importance of this initiative was reinforced by the inclusion of two road safety goals among the 17 established in the post-2015 Global Sustainable Development Goals agenda: to decrease by 50% the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents globally by 2020; and “to provide safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all [by] improving road safety.
Authors and Affiliations
Wesley M. Rohrer
Keywords
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- EP ID EP555193
- DOI 10.17140/PHOJ-1-e004
- Views 132
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