Road traffic injuries are a global public health problem.

Editor—Road traffic crashes and their sequelae are a scourge in all societies, both developed and developing. Each year over a million people are killed in road traffic collisions worldwide and some 10 million people are injured or disabled by these events, predominantly in low and middle income countries. Despite what is known about road traffic crashes and their health consequences, policymakers worldwide show little awareness of their contribution to the burden of disease; consequently they are neglected in service and policy. At the same time there has been limited funding, particularly in low and middle income countries, for traffic related research even though these injuries drain developing economies of 1-2% of gross domestic product (about $100 bn) each year, or twice the total development aid received worldwide by developing countries. The critical issue is that road traffic injuries can be prevented. Many effective strategies have been identified in developed countries, but since the type of traffic injuries in developing countries differ greatly from those in developed countries, the prevention strategies, technologies, and policies cannot simply be exported. They require specific testing and appropriate modification to ensure their effectiveness in developing societies. The World Health Organization, as the lead coordinating agency for international public health, is guiding a science based programme of activities in the prevention of road traffic injury. In 2001 its department of injuries and violence prevention, together with partners, developed a multidisciplinary five year global strategy for this (www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/ index.html). This strategy takes into consideration competing needs and expectations, and limited resources in many countries, and addresses long term sustainable goals. The Global Forum for Health Research and the WHO are supporting an initiative to promote appropriate research in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (see www. globalforumhealth.org/pages/index.asp). This North-South collaborative effort is embarking on an ambitious research agenda for the prevention of road traffic injuries. Complementarily, another initiative, led by the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies and cosponsored by the WHO, addresses the problem of health equity and road traffic injuries. An alliance of partners will help 10 developing countries to develop appropriate policies and interventions over five years. Dedicating an issue of the BMJ to road traffic injuries is a welcome step in the acknowledgement of this global public health problem. It is also a call for partners around the world to confront the growing epidemic and save lives.