Abstract

RODRIGUEZ H, Jorge M; HIJAR M, Martha  and  VILLAVECES I, Andrés. Road audits and interventions to prevent pedestrian injuries, Cuernavaca, Mexico, 2010. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2014, vol.32, n.3, pp.275-281. ISSN 0120-386X.

Pedestrian injuries are a public health problem in Mexico. Represent more than 40% of the deaths reported as road traffic injuries (RTI). Likewise, they represent up to 60% of all RTIs in urban areas. OBJECTIVE: To characterize and analyze the areas with a high incidence of fatal and non-fatal pedestrian injuries in Cuernavaca, Mexico. METHODOLOGY: a retrospective descriptive study in which street audits were conducted on the intersections with the highest risk of pedestrian fatality and injury. Pedestrian and vehicle equipment, light cycles and the features of the physical environment were assessed for each place. These assessments were supplemented with photographic evidence. RESULTS: deteriorating or missing physical environment elements were observed, e.g. worn out signs on the road and beside it, poor visibility due to the presence of tree branches, vehicles parked in inappropriate locations, unauthorized public transport stops, lack of use of pedestrian bridges, and short traffic light cycles. CONCLUSIONS: road audits are tools used in traffic engineering but underutilized by public health professionals as techniques to prevent RTIs, particularly pedestrian injuries. These tools facilitate the design, planning and implementation of primary prevention measures to reduce injury risks amongst the most vulnerable users of public roads: pedestrians.

Keywords : prevention; injuries; safety road; Mexico.

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