%0 Journal Article %T System versus traditional approach in road traffic injury prevention. A call for action %A Davoud Khorasani-Zavareh %J Journal of Injury and Violence Research %D 2011 %I Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences %X Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major public health problem worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)and require concerted efforts for effective and sustainable prevention. A variety of measures need to be considered when planning activities. This is particularly true in LMICs. Iran, for example, despite its enormous efforts in recent years in both pre-crash and post crash measures as well as social policy changes, continues to be challenged by the sheer magnitude of this major public health problem. Accordingly, stakeholders¡¯ perceptions, the approach and the kind of preventive activities are crucial. On the whole, there are two different approaches in RTI prevention: the individual approach and the system approach.In the individual approach, there is a tendency for researchers and particularly practitioners to identify only one or a few elements, which usually can be found in many LMICs. Traditionally, in such countries many studies have focused on factors relating to driver errors, poor vehicles and the road environment instead of finding the reason for injury outcome. In many LMICs, the majority of preventive activities target road-user behaviors, which are usually tackled by means of education and enforcement. Hence the primary responsibility is assigned to the road user. However, while safe road-user behavior is one important component, changing such behavior should not simply be focused on education and enforcement. When WHO launched its call to action, it invited members of the public to be part of the solution. The initiative focused on five important courses of action for the general public including: not speeding; wearing a seat-belt; being visible on the road; wearing a helmet; and never drinking and driving. Studies on public education efficiency have revealed that a decrease in crashes due to such campaigns can occur only if they clearly target specific forms of behavior, like seat belt use or helmet wearing.In contrast, a system approach, tends to be mainly directed toward the crashworthiness of the road transport system. Sweden has been rather successful in this area and one major national policy is a long-term vision for road safety, ¡°Vision Zero¡±. It was a revolutionary way of thinking about traffic user safety that helped Sweden to significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries due to road traffic crashes. This is a road safety policy that puts the protection of the most vulnerable road-users at its centre. The system designer has the primary responsibility and as a result changes within the e %K Traffic %K Injury prevention %K Road traffic injuries %U http://www.jivresearch.org/jivr/index.php/jivr/article/view/128