Road-traffic injuries: confronting disparities to address a global-health problem

Abstract

Evidence suggests that the present and projected global burden of road-traffi c injuries is disproportionately borne by countries that can least aff ord to meet the health service, economic, and societal challenges posed. Although the evidence base on which these estimates are made remains somewhat precarious in view of the limited data systems in most lowincome and middle-income countries (as per the classifi cation on the World Bank website), these projections highlight the essential need to address road-traffi c injuries as a public-health priority. Most well-evaluated eff ective interventions do not directly focus on eff orts to protect vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists and pedestrians. Yet, these groups comprise the majority of road-traffi c victims in low-income and middle-income countries, and consequently, the majority of the road-traffi c victims globally. Appropriately responding to these disparities in available evidence and prevention eff orts is necessary if we are to comprehensively address this global-health dilemma.