Trends in motor vehicle crash mortality in Europe, 1980–2007

Can health public expenditure reduce the tragic consequences of road traffic accidents? The EU-27 experience

“…In line with Orsi et al (2012) we also consider typical variables used for road traffic fatalities related to the country's economic conditions found in the empirical literature. In this regard, we include the per capita gross domestic product as an indicator of the country's economic development (García-Ferrer et al 2007).…”

“…This variable seeks to capture the intensity of traffic on the roads. In this regard, we could expect a positive relationship between the amount of traffic and road fatalities since the total amount of driving is an indication of the population's exposure to road accident risks (Orsi et al 2012). However, as Li et al (2012) find, such a relationship could be dependent upon congestion levels.…”

“…Several studies have analyzed factors that may be statistically significant for explaining the fall in European accidents rates (Herrero Blanco et al 2011;Orsi et al 2012) with variables linked to level of economic activity or to preventive actions (active safety): traffic safety policies or related to investment in and maintenance of safer roads and vehicles. Much of this work agrees in also associating reductions in traffic-related fatalities with so-called passive safety, in reference to the effectiveness of post-accident care (Gitelman et al, 2012;Noland, 2003): i.e., advances in recent decades in National Health Systems (NHS) that provide better emergency services and vehicles (Elvik et al 2009); advanced trauma care (Bishai et al 2006;Gitelman et al 2012); new medical technology and treatments (Noland & Quddus, 2004); greater availability of hospitals, hospital beds and personnel (Anwaar et al 2012); and faster and better pre-hospital care with a considerable reduction in the so-called "Golden Hour" 1 (Arroyo et al 2012;Sánchez-Mangas et al 2010).…”

“…In short, different health-care systems may reflect different health outcomes (Nixon & Ulmann, 2006) and different levels of road safety performance, which in turn are also influenced by each State's own socio-political, economic and historical evolution, according to Orsi et al (2012).…”

Are traffic violators criminals? Searching for answers in the experiences of European countries

“…Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major cause of mortality and serious morbidity with high economic costs in the European Union (EU) (Castillo-Manzano et al, 2014;Orsi et al, 2012). Among the issues that contribute to the occurrence of RTAs, most of studies highlight behavioral factors as a principal explanation; particularly those that reduce capabilities (drowsiness, fatigue, alcohol or drug consumption) or increase risk while driving (traffic offences, driver stress, violence and aggressiveness in traffic, motor vehicle crimes) (Petridou & Moustaki, 2000 analyze this classification in depth).…”