Good road safety practices in the Americas: action-oriented data and stories

Abstract

[Introduction]. Every year, road traffi c crashes kill approximately 155,000 people in the Region of the Americas and injure many thousands more. Traf fic injuries are the leading cause of death among children between the ages of 5 and 14 and the second-leading cause of death among people 15 to 29 years old. The situation is alarming and constitutes a crisis in public health and in development, since each road crash is a tragedy that can push victims’ families into poverty... Health sector leadership is essential to make progress in the prevention of injuries and deaths on public roads. We hope that this pamphlet contributes evidence and experiences that serve as an example and inspiration for all those who play a role in improving road safety in the Americas.