Road safety in China: analysis of current challenges.
BACKGROUND
China has the world's largest population, and is the second largest automobile market. China's economy is booming, resulting in a rapid increase in both the road infrastructure and access to private vehicles. Along with economic growth, the ownership of motorized vehicles has almost quadrupled in the past 10years, from 42.2million in 1997 to 159.7million in 2007. However, at the same time, China also has a very high number of road fatalities compared to other countries, with about 100,000 reported fatalities each year.


METHODS
This study analyzes the Chinese road-fatality situation to identify areas in which the total harm caused by crashes can be substantially and readily reduced. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the current road-fatality situation in China using conventional indices and the likely future trends.


RESULTS
Four areas were identified in which countermeasures have the most potential to substantially reduce fatalities in China: pedestrians and other non-motorists, nighttime driving, vehicle passengers, and motorcycles.


CONCLUSIONS
While China faces unprecedented road safety issues, this report identifies major areas in which there are opportunities to greatly reduce total harm.
Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. zhangwei@tsinghua.edu.cn
Wei
W
Zhang
Omer
O
Tsimhoni
Michael
M
Sivak
Michael J
MJ
Flannagan
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011482:Protective Devices; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012622:Seat Belts; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult