Make existing roads as safe as possible as soon as possible with road safety engineering
Co-founder Gerry Balcar was intimately involved at the center of a momentous shift in road safety thinking that started essentially in 1971 in the United States. This shift changed the focus from trying to alter driver and pedestrian behavior and to improve vehicle safety standards to a focus on first improving the safety of existing roads.
Read MoreFor more than a decade, there has been little progress in reducing road traffic tragedies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Annually, over a million men, women and children are killed, an estimated 28 million are injured and 1.4 million are disabled there. This tragedy will continue unless changes are made to utilize the prioritized, proven, realistic and relevant countermeasures that worked in the rich world.
Read MoreIn 2004, when the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on road traffic tragedy globally, there was particular emphasis on the perceived relationship between public health and road safety. It may have seemed to the leaders at the WHO that the answer to reducing road traffic fatalities, and specifically those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where 90% of the carnage occurs, would reside mainly in public health solutions of changing driver and pedestrian behavior.
Read MoreHow can it be, as we claim, that the history of the pivotal change in road traffic safety policy that was originated in America in the 1970’s can be lost? It certainly is a reasonable question.
Read MoreBill Harsha, republican of Ohio and the Ranking Minority Member of the US House of Representatives Committee on Public Works in 1971, was the leader of the momentous shift in highway safety policy to focus on first improving the safety of existing roads from the traditional policy of trying to alter the behavior of drivers and pedestrians. He was, however, very aware of the need for “the public” to get behind safety campaigns...
Read MoreIn the American legislative process, like in most well established democracies, the essential work of the congress is in committees. Their members and staffs become very familiar with, and often expert in, their jurisdictions. Journalists rely on them for insights. Lobbyists for various interests swarm around them. Representatives of foreign governments watch what they do.
Read MoreFor more than a decade, there has been little progress in reducing road traffic tragedies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Annually, over a million men, women and children are killed, an estimated 28 million are injured and 1.4 million are disabled there. This tragedy will continue unless changes are made to utilize the prioritized, proven, realistic and relevant countermeasures that worked in the rich world.
In 2004, when the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on road traffic tragedy globally, there was particular emphasis on the perceived relationship between public health and road safety. It may have seemed to the leaders at the WHO that the answer to reducing road traffic fatalities, and specifically those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where 90% of the carnage occurs, would reside mainly in public health solutions of changing driver and pedestrian behavior.
How can it be, as we claim, that the history of the pivotal change in road traffic safety policy that was originated in America in the 1970’s can be lost? It certainly is a reasonable question.
Bill Harsha, republican of Ohio and the Ranking Minority Member of the US House of Representatives Committee on Public Works in 1971, was the leader of the momentous shift in highway safety policy to focus on first improving the safety of existing roads from the traditional policy of trying to alter the behavior of drivers and pedestrians. He was, however, very aware of the need for “the public” to get behind safety campaigns...
In the American legislative process, like in most well established democracies, the essential work of the congress is in committees. Their members and staffs become very familiar with, and often expert in, their jurisdictions. Journalists rely on them for insights. Lobbyists for various interests swarm around them. Representatives of foreign governments watch what they do.
Road Safety Realities aims to Reduce Global Road Traffic Tragedies by looking at the issue from a different perspective and by providing proven, realistic, relevant and prioritized recommendations of what to do now in low- and middle-income countries to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities.
Click cover for article and click here for a related article in the same issue
Provides recommendations of what to do now in low- and middle-income countries. With a set of proven, realistic and relevant priorities, and with the right global leadership, road traffic deaths and injuries can be reduced as soon as action is taken.
© Copyright Road Safety Realities 2021
Co-founder Gerry Balcar was intimately involved at the center of a momentous shift in road safety thinking that started essentially in 1971 in the United States. This shift changed the focus from trying to alter driver and pedestrian behavior and to improve vehicle safety standards to a focus on first improving the safety of existing roads.