State-of-the-art session: Traffic Safety Monday, September 19, 2016

María Seguí-Gómez MD, MPH, ScD

Sweden vs. Spain traffic fatality ratesPe

r 100

000

pop

ulati

on

19601962

19641966

19681970

19721974

19761978

19801982

19841986

19881990

19921994

19961998

20002002

20042006

20082010

20122014

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

16.8

24.1

Emerging =1. Newly created or noticed and growing in

strength or popularity ;

2. Becoming widely known or established

Firstly used in 1646

Source: Merriam Webster

Emergent issue 1: No decrease in deaths and gap between countries

Sweden 2.7; Spain 3.6

Expectations set forth

Emergent issue 2: Increase in citizen s frailty …

…and cognitive impairment to drive: illegal drugs

Emergent issue 3: Increase in mobility but change in modes and patterns

Motorized vs. Non motorized vehiclesEuropean mobility week (16-22 September 2016): Smart mobility. Strong economy Yet…

Traditional vs. Autonomous motorized vehicles

Political will

• September 21, 2016 Zero road victims day in EU

• EU´s Amsterdam declaration signed by all EU Ministers of Transport and Ministers of Environmental Affairs (EU as a“living lab”: target 2019)

• UNECE working on legislatory changes to disitribute responsibility away from “traditional” driver

In summary: Emergent action needed to• Adopt existing effective measures everywhere• While remembering that a few countries have large potential for quick

returns

• Recognize frailer populations when it comes to both accident control and injury control allowing for better connections between health and transportation sectors to effectively screen out people with temporary or permanent cognitive impairments to operate a “traditional” vehicle or travel unassisted• Ensure reduction of unproductive travel patterns and shift to safer

and more efficient vehicles

Thank youDr. Maria Segui-Gomez

Adjunct Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthVisiting Professor, University of Virgina School of Medicine

Special consultant for FIA (starting soon)

mariaseguigomez@gmail.com