Title: Vulnerable Road Users<br/>Author: Andrea Tenner<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/1069/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
        <strong><em>General Information:</em></strong></p>
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                <strong>1.24 million </strong>people die each year on the world's roads</li>
        <li>
                <strong>50% </strong>of those dying on the world’s roads are vulnerable road users (VRUs-- those most at risk in traffic, i.e. those unprotected by an outside shield)
                <ul>
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                                23% motorcyclists, 22% pedestrians, 5% cyclists</li>
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                                Children and elderly are overrepresented among victims</li>
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</ul>
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        <strong><em>Area of the world affected:</em></strong></p>
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                In 2010, low- and middle-income countries had higher road traffic fatality rates (18.3 and 20.1 per 100,000, respectively) compared to high-income countries (8.7).</li>
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                The African region had the highest road traffic fatality rate, at 24.1, while the European region had the lowest rate, at 10.3.</li>
</ul>
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        <strong><em>Relevance to the US physician:</em></strong></p>
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        <li>
                While public health measures are key in reducing the risk to VRUs, improving the provision of emergency medical services may also result in a higher proportion of victims surviving on the road or on the way to a health clinic.</li>
        <li>
                Travelers should also be mindful of the risks of motorcycles, bicycles, and walking along the roadside</li>
</ul>
<p>
        <strong><em>Bottom Line:</em></strong></p>
<p>
        VRU traffic injuries are the greatest challenge of today's worldwide road safety. </p>
<p>
        <strong>University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health</strong></p>
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        <strong>Author: Terrence Mulligan DO, MPH</strong></p>
<fieldset><legend>References</legend>

                <p>
        <a href="http://www.who.int/gho/road_safety/en/">http://www.who.int/gho/road_safety/en/</a></p>
<p>
        <a href="http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000228">http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000228</a></p>
<p>
        <a href="http://www.grsproadsafety.org/our-knowledge/safer-road-users/vulnerable-road-users">http://www.grsproadsafety.org/our-knowledge/safer-road-users/vulnerable-road-users</a></p>
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