Road safety: global public health problem and local solutions

Each year 1.2 million people die and 20–50 million people become disabled as a result of road traffic accidents (RTA) [5]. Every day hundreds of people around us, wherever we are – in Poland, China, Venezuela or United States, are dying preliminarily and suddenly – just going to work or vacations, crossing the road or on their way to an amorous appointment. They are drivers and pedestrians, mothers and children, old and young. The threat of road accidents is on everybody’s mind, but it seems that we still do not realize the real magnitude of the problem. These are lives not lived, families not created, children not born. These are also disability pensions, pain, families broken, sufferings. And the situation is getting worse even though we know that these tragic situations and their consequences are predictable and preventable. Some countries – among them are Denmark and Sweden – have shown spectacular results in reducing the road accident rates.