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New Delhi. May 09, 2019 ;
Three Latin American countries – Salvador, Mexico, Uruguay – implemented measures to reduce speed, limit drink-driving, and ensure that all motorcycle users wear helmets, that all car passengers wear seat-belts, and that children use car-seats. The countries also passed and enforced laws, reducing both mortality and road traffic accidents.
The three examples highlighted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) within the framework of the ongoing Fifth United Nations Global Road Safety Week, are from Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay.
- The program “Life Not Traffic Program of Salvador” implemented by Salvador de Bahía brought together a variety of institutions with the common goal of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries. As a result, in 2017 there were 121 fatal accidents, compared to 266 in 2010 – a reduction of 54%.
- The example of Mexico shows how the health sector should and can take leadership and join forces with other sectors, something that has saved around 10,000 lives in 5 years. The story of Guanajuato exemplifies how policies promoted at the national level can be translated into concrete measures and initiatives at state and municipal levels and implemented on the ground by enthusiastic and committed teams.
- Uruguay highlights the positive results that can be achieved in reducing road-traffic mortalities following the approval and implementation of a national agency to promote national legislation that addresses the main factors affecting road safety, such as speed and alcohol. It also highlights that in order to keep moving forward, constant challenges much be faced, such as achieving compliance with laws at the local and subnational levels, particularly those aimed at protecting the most vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and motorcyclists.
Source : PAHO
The author of this article is Dr K K Aggarwal, Padma Shri Awardee.
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