Citation

Lee SW. J. Traffic Med. 1996; 24(3-4): 69-72.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: This paper is undertaken to point out the imbalance between socio-economic development and road traffic safety in Korea and to highlight policy priorities that particularly need participation of medical professionals. Methods: Increase in the number of motor vehicles, accidents and casualties are reviewed over the last ten years. The data concerned with socio-economic development as well as road safety characteristics are presented and international comparison was made. Results: Figures of socio-economic development are reaching out those, except for the motorization rate, in high income countries and far over the average range of the advanced developing countries. On the other hand road safety characteristics remain far beyond the range of development but on the worse side of the developing countries. Conclusion: The outstanding imbalance between development and road safety requires the country to devote resources to the prevention of accidents and reduction of casualties utilizing intellectual man power including medical professionals. Building up an integrated institutional structure with relevant expertise linked to decision making bodies is essential in order to plan or implement policy priorities for the future.