Road Safety and Public Health in Russia, Europe, and Central Asia

Dr. Patricio Marquez is the Lead Health Specialist at the World Bank for the Europe and Central Asia Region. He delivered a presentation on “Road Safety and Public Health in Russia, Europe, and Central Asia”  as part of the Health Working Group series. The event was moderated by Dr. Judyth Twigg, Professor, School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Marquez highlighted specific areas of the World Bank report that outlined the challenges and opportunities in addressing the growing road traffic injury and mortality rates in the ECA region (Baltics, Balkans, EE, CIS, and Turkey). In 2008, Russia had nearly 30,000 road traffic deaths and 271,000 non-fatal road traffic injuries. The challenges to road traffic safety include poor road and vehicle conditions and a 260% percent increase in motor vehicles since the 1990’s. Risky behavior such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding and other aggressive behavior, and not wearing seatbelts or helmets also significantly contribute to injury and mortality rates. In some cases, safety measure have not been sufficiently legislated, and in others, they are not properly enforced.  In order to truly address “Death on Wheels,” it is necessary for countries to adopt a Road Safety Management System whereby government entities work in partnership with civil society and business to develop legislation, funding and resource allocation, promotion, and monitoring and evaluation strategies.