Travel Injury Facts
Last updated: 07/09/2006 - 13:01
Trauma caused specifically by injuries arising from motor vehicle crashes is the leading cause of death and disability all over the world. The risk of car, minibus or motorcycle-related death can be up to 13 times higher in developing countries than in Western Europe.
The most dangerous form of travel in the world is the minibus. This term encompasses many local derivatives. Operated by the private individual, the minibus's aim is to take as many people on as many trips as possible within as short a space of time to increase profits. They travel fast, and safety features are generally nonexistent.
60,000 Accidents
In South Africa, 60,000 accidents involving minibuses kill more than 900 people every year. Included in the death tolls for Peru, for example, are pedestrians hit by vehicles being driven erratically. Last year, the estimated that the 30,000 minibuses in Lima killed 375 pedestrians. It is a fact that the less developed countries don't properly report their accident and death rates; so figures obtained may be, and probably are, much worse.
Surprisingly to some, flying is still statistically proven to be the safest form of transport. More incredible is the fact that it is shown to be almost 200 times safer than walking!
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