Poor road safety causes too many deaths worldwide

摘要

Road safety is an issue that rarely grabs headlines, although it is something that affects people around the globe. Road deaths account for a shockingly high percentage of deaths worldwide, with the risks being particularly high in developing countries. This poses such a threat to public health that the United Nations has been taking steps to address the issue, commencing with its Decade of Action on Road Safety in 2010. The focus has been on developing countries, due to the rapid increase in road deaths in many countries. A combination of minimal driver training, poor road maintenance, insufficient enforcement and weak laws has resulted in carnage on the roads of many countries. With vehicle numbers growing fast in developing nations, the problem is getting worse and with young males are particularly at risk. The impact on the struggling economies of developing countries is massive while the human cost goes without saying.