Road accidents: worldwide a problem that can be tackled successfully!

Every year, worldwide about 500,000 people are killed in road accidents. This contribution gives an overview of the present state of affairs in the area of road safety. The anticipated growth of (motorized) mobility on a global scale will, without effective road safety management, lead to an increase in the number of fatal accidents and injured persons. From experience we know that the problem of road accidents is not unassailable. An overview of prominent examples of effective measures is given. Also activities and measures which could lead to a further reduction in road casualties are described. These include realistic possibilities but it is not to be expected that one single all-embracing measure can be found to solve the problems. It is rather more the necessity to carry out existing measures and activities in a better way based on synergy and permanent implementation. Furthermore, preventive and explicit road safety considerations will have to include decisions concerning the planning and investment in road infrastructure (construction and maintenance), in order to prevent road safety problems rather than solving them with hindsight (‘When the steed is stolen the stable-door is locked'). Of importance is the setting of political priorities, adequate organization and sufficient budgets. The international exchange of know-how on effective measures, for example via meta-analyses and `best practice' overviews, could be of help and to this end the international road safety community is encouraged to take initiatives to develop cooperation. Road safety is a worldwide problem and has not been solved to satisfaction anywhere. But there are many recognized possibilities which have, and in the future can have, a visible positive effect. If this insight can be brought to bear upon politicians and policy makers, the number of road accidents can be tackled even more successfully