Currently, motor vehicle crashes or MVC are considered to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, killing an increasing rate of individuals yearly (Mohammadi et al. 61 & 62). To date, it is estimated that 1.3 millions of fatalities as well as hundreds of thousands of injuries and disabilities around the world are attributed to accidents with motor vehicles (Mohammadi et al. 62). Furthermore, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has determined in its 2009 report that 5870 persons died—accounting for 16% of all fatalities—while approximately 515,000 persons were injured all because of MVCs (Gostin and Jacobson 1419). The rate of accidents that happen yearly in connection to motor vehicles is undoubtedly increasing and becomes alarming that improvement of road safety laws and measures is actually prompted.
Like all the other kinds of social problems that imperil the safety of a population of individuals, there are numerous factors that govern the occurrences of vehicular accidents. As exemplified in one study, risk factors that predispose an individual to vehicular accidents largely include the type and make of the vehicle used (Gostin and Jacobson 1420; Mohammadi et al. 63), age of drivers (Mohammadi et al. 64), and the distraction of drivers, which is particularly common among people of high-income countries (Gostin and Jacobson 1419 & 1420). Aside from the abovementioned risk factors, the legislation and implementation of laws are also considered as determining factors in likelihood of vehicular accidents taking place (Gostin and Jacobson 1419 &1420).
While the prevalence of fatalities and morbidities related to MVCs is unanimously common in countries worldwide, the circumstances under which they take place differ from country to country. To date, 90% of fatalities related to vehicular accidents occur in low- and middle-income countries (Mohammadi et al. 62). The likelihood of VMCs in low- and middle-income countries can be largely attributed to (1) age of driver, (2) lack of proper education pertaining to safe driving, (3) vehicles that are too old or have poor make, (4) faulty roads, and (5) laws that fail to address the main causes of accidents (Mohammadi et al. 62). Such factors that predispose individuals to fatal road accidents in low- and middle-income countries are entirely different from those that largely cause fatal road accidents in high-income countries. In countries such as USA, drivers may be held solely responsible for the occurrence of fatal road accidents especially through what is now commonly known distracted driving. The use of other things, usually mobile phones and other gadgets, that distract the drivers from driving are the common causes of MVCs in USA (Gostin and Jacobson 1419). Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs is also a contributing factor (Mohammadi et al. 62).
Improvement of road safety laws may differ in relation to the factors that determine the likelihood of road accidents to occur. In low- and middle-income countries, immediate repair of damaged roads, implementation of rules that further regulate the starting age of drivers, regulation of number of passengers, application of fines per penalty and effective mandatory dissemination of useful lectures on safe driving may all be useful to address and actually solve the problems. On the other hand, despite lower reports on fatalities and morbidities in relation to road accidents compared to low- and middle-income countries, high-income countries such as USA are more focused on reducing the incidences of drunk driving and distracted driving (Gostin and Jacobson 1419 &1420). Road safety laws may be more effective in preventing fatalities and injuries by regulating the use of mobile devices that distract drivers off the roads (Gostin and Jacobson 1420). Furthermore, active involvement of car manufacturers in making cars safer and restricting the use of mobile devices while the car is still in motion is also seen as a substantial improvement in road and safety laws (Gostin and Jacobson 1420). Promoting primary enforcement of road safety laws may also be helpful in monitoring and keeping the safety of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians from MVCs (Gostin and Jacobson 1420).
Works Cited
Gostin, Lawrence O. and P.D. Jacobson. “Reducing Distracted Driving: Regulation and Education to Avert Traffic Injuries and Fatalities.” Journal of American Medical Association 303.14 (2010): 1419-1420. Georgetown University Law Center. Web. 27 Dec. 2014.
Mohammadi, Mahdi, et al. “Human and Vehicle Factors in Motor Vehicle Crashes and Severity of Related Injuries in South East Iran.” Journal of Health Scope 1.2 (2012): 61-65. Web. 27 Dec. 2014.
