Revista de salud pública (Bogotá, Colombia)
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Rev Salud Publica (Bogota) · Jun 2010
Review[Primary prevention measures for controlling pedestrian injuries and deaths and improving road safety].
At least 30 % of traffic-related injuries involve pedestrians. These events typically result in incapacitating physical injury and may even cause death. Productive-aged men, aged 20 to 45, represent the people generally affected in Latin-America. ⋯ There is a consensus among experts worldwide that rigorous investigation is needed (especially in low- and middle-income countries) to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions focused on other traffic-related actors. This review presents a variety of primary prevention strategies, other than pedestrian bridges, which (according to the available evidence) should start to be implemented. These would include modifying the physical environment, education, speed controls, enforcing legislation and imposing respect for pedestrians, valuing their limitations and vulnerability.