Preventable Health Issue: Road Traffic Accident Fatalities In Australia - Essay Example

RUNNING HEAD: ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN AUSTRALIA Road Traffic Accident Fatalities in Australia Name Institution Date Introduction Road traffic accidents are increasingly being identified as a major cause of fatalities and a growing health issue in Australia. According to the Australian Automobile Association (2011), an estimated 1,600 people are killed in road accidents every year in Australia. In the year 2005, for instance, Australia was ranked 7th out of the OECD countries in terms of road fatalities. As highlighted by the Australian Automobile Association (2011), these road estimates are not merely a statistic, but involve abrupt loss, pain, anguish and financial adversities that significantly change the lives of thousands of the Australian families’ forever. While the human cost in terms of pain, anguish, personal loss and financial sufferings from road accidents is incalculable, the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics estimates that the road accidents cost the Australian community an approximated 40 million US dollars everyday or 15 billion US dollars annually, an amount equivalent to the Australian’s defense budget or 3% of the Australia’s Gross Domestic Profit .This particular paper intends to provide an analysis of road traffic accidents fatalities in Australia as a current health issue affecting the Australian population . The paper will as well highlight the role of paramedics in addressing the issue. Analysis of Road Traffic Accident Fatalities in terms of affected community/population and the scope According to the Australian Bureau of Statics (1998), the number of traffic road accidents involving deaths (fatalities) rose for the first time since the year 1995, growing by approximately 5% from the number of deaths in the year 1999. However, by the year 2008, the number of traffic road accident fatalities reduced from a recorded figure of 3,798 in the 1970 to 1,465.The number of fatalities per capita during the year 2008 went down considerably, from a peak of about 30.4 per 100,000 individuals during the year 1970 to 6.9 in the year 2009. According to the Australian Bureau of Statics (2011), this decline has been attributed to the great effort that has been made by the department of Infrastructure and roads in order to cut down the number of fatalities from road accidents. Despite the decline in the number of road traffic fatalities, the issue is still an impending challenge that can be prevented. When evaluating the aspect of scope in terms of age, findings by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011), highlight that the most affected populations by road traffic accident fatalities in Australia are young people, mostly males, aged between 18 and 24 years, an indication that the number of road accident fatalities is a problem predominantly of the younger male population. Over the period between the years 2004-2007, for instance, the average number of road accidents leading to death among the young aged 18-24 years was about 418 for every year. Road accident deaths made up the highest proportion of all the deaths among the young people (31%) when compared to the population aged 25 years and above (1% of the fatalities). In 2008 the number of young males between the ages of 17-24 who died due to road accidents was 65 while the male between 40-59 years was only 22 ( Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2009). The high levels of road traffic deaths by young drivers, especially young men is a critical element of the economic and social costs inflicted on the society by road transport. The costs are stunning. From the ambulance services that transport the accident victims to the emergency room, through hospitalization, income loss, and social and family disruption, the economic and social consequences are far-reaching. In terms of gender, the male gender has greatly been affected by road accident fatalities. Records of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport indicate that since 1985 to the current year the male gender has succumbed more to road accident fatalities as opposed to the female gender. The marginal difference between the two genders has also, remained huge. For instance in the year 2008, at total of 1075 people of the male gender died due to road accidents while only 388 women succumbed to death from road accidents( Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2009). Findings presented by the department of roads indicate that in a trend of 5years 2006-2011 the highest population / community affected by road traffic accidents is New South Wales region. In despite of the fact that the number of fatal road accidents in the region has declined over the years, what is evident is that the number of deaths associated to road traffic accidents in the region is still higher than other regions in Australia. For instance in the y ear 2008, the number of deaths that were associated road accidents in NSW was 214 which was 65% of the number of deaths in the entire population( Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2009). Relevant contributory determinants of the health and the Implications of Road Accidents to affected population/ community As highlighted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011), one of the leading causes of road traffic accident fatalities in Australia is drinking at risky levels and then driving. Laird and Bachels (2001) argue that youth is normally a stage in life when individuals start to try out alcohol as well as other drugs. Short-term risky or high risk drinking of alcohol leads to an immediate or severe intoxication. Its potential risk is that it increases the probability of an individual being involved in a road accident. Evidence from various researches also suggest that the unwillingness to use seat belts by a large numbers of young drivers acts as a major contributory factor in the number of road accident fatalities. As highlighted by Australian Institute of Family Studies (2011), the use of seat belt is less common among young drivers as compared to other age groups, especially young men. Australian Institute of Family Studies (2011), examined seat belt attitudes and behaviours among 954 drivers in Victoria, Australia, and found out that young drivers aged between 17-25 years were more likely than aged drivers (51-90 years) to display poor road safety behaviours, portrayed by their inconsistent seat belt use, unfavourable attitudes towards seat belt use and road safety, as well as a more negative attitude of their own driving capability. Perceived low risk of injuries, forgetfulness and discomfort were most cited reasons by the participants in this research for not putting on seat belts. Another factor that has contributed to the high numbers of road fatalities among the young people of Australia is the risk taking. As Australian Institute of Family Studies (2011) notes, young people are more likely to drive at high speed, overtake other vehicles in a risky manner as well as decline to yield to various pedestrians. However, according to Australian Institute of Family Studies (2011), majority of young people who involve themselves in risky driving do not do so intentionally. Rather, a propensity to underestimate risk as well as overrate one’s abilities that is responsible for this kind of driving behaviours among most young drivers. Speeding also appears to be another factor that is more often than not associated with the high levels of road accident crashes that lead to death among many young people. According to Australian Institute of Family Studies (2011), it is the most frequent driving offence among the young drivers and over speeding (excessive speeding) has often been implicated in a number of road accidents involving this age group. For instance, according to Australian Institute of Family Studies (2011), excessive speeding was argued to play a significant role involving the first year licensed drivers in the Western part of Australia during the year 1998, compared to 10% of road accidents involving those drivers who had held their driving licenses for ten years. The main implication of deaths associated to road accidents is the fact that the loss of lives is a loss to both the families and also the entire nation. Road accidents is basically a preventable health issue however when young people die early then we loss productive people who would be useful in building the nation. The role of the health professional (paramedic in the community) to address Road Traffic Accidents According to Laird and Bachels (2001), a number of countermeasures that show results both immediately and in the long run have been strategically implemented. Particular attention has been paid to the significant elements that trigger and exacerbate traffic road risks. A major role of the Australian health professionals has been increasing public awareness regarding the issue of road traffic fatalities. This role involves carrying out communication campaigns based on researched information, sensitizing the public as regards the nature and risks, and encouraging the change of behaviours and attitudes that lead to the high number of road accident fatalities. Laird and Bachels (2001) highlight that this countermeasure in itself does not immediately yield higher reductions in terms of risks, but it is a requirement for attaining greater public understanding of the issue as well as encouraging the recognition of other countermeasures. Australian health professionals also have a role to advocate the implementation of the general road safety improvements that focus on young drivers. This involves advocating for the appropriate legislation as well as the rigorous enforcement of laws regarding road safety, concentrating on areas where young driver risk is very high, such as the use of drugs, alcohol and seatbelt use (Laird and Bachels, 2001). The Australian Health professionals also have a role to advocate for improved driver training and testing, including a focus on self-awareness and the understanding of the various incidents that lead to safer driving. As highlighted by the Transport Research Center (2006), such changes, call for a significant prior analysis, and, most likely, legislative action. Even though they are significant, the Transport Research Center (2006) argues that they may not have a similar impact as those countermeasures that effectively reduce risks. Proposal of a Primary Health Care Service One fundamental primary health care approaches for road traffic accidents is prevention. Tulchinsky, (2003) argues that prevention is the key aspect in primary health care when it comes to road traffic fatalities. As a result renewed emphasis should be accorded to prevention when devising a plan for primary health care services related to road traffic accidents. How paramedics can work with both other professionals and community members to prevent or reduce the occurrence of Fatal Road Accidents Paramedics can work with other professionals such as employees from the department of transport and roads to organizing health education programs for the community. The health education program will mainly have the objective of behavioural change among road users. A Health education programs requires the development of an exclusive curriculum that will provide practical examples to members of the community concerning how they can prevent deaths related to road traffic accidents. Paramedics will therefore be required to works with curriculum developers in order to develop a unique program that will lead to a radical change in the behaviour of road users (Tulchinsky, 2003). Conclusion From the above discussion what is evident is that road accident fatalities is basically one of the greatest preventable health issue that still poses a challenge to our society. The paper has highlighted that there has been a significant decline in the number of fatalities associated to road traffic accidents. In addition in terms of age, young people between the ages of 17-24 are the most affected by the issue. This is due to drinking and then driving, not following road regulation and risk taking behaviours. The role of health professionals in dealing with the road accident fatalities include; implementing road safety awareness and advocating for the implementation of the general road safety improvements that focus on young drivers. The paper further proposes that an essential primary health care approach for road traffic accidents is prevention. As a result prevention can be enhanced if health professionals develop a community educational program that assists to enhance prevention measures for road accident fatalities. Although the paper acknowledges that there has been a significant decline in the number of fatalities associated to road traffic fatalities, the paper concludes that the challenge is still impending and more has to be done by all stakeholders involved. References Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2011). Overrepresentation of Young Drivers in Traffic Accidents. Retrieved on April 6, 2012 from Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008). Australian Social Trends: Risk Taking by Young People, Retrieved on April 5, 2012 from Australian Automobile Association. (2011).Consider the Facts On Road Traffic Accidents. Department of Infrastructure and Transport ,2011, Annual Reports Laird, P and Bachels, M.(2001). Back on track: rethinking transport policy in Australia and New Zealand. UNSW Press. Transport Research Center. (2006).Young Drivers: The Road to Safety, OECD Publishing. Tulchinsky, T. (2003). Primary health care service for road accidents New concepts in primary care: prevention as Policy. PubMed . 9(8):723-6., Read More