Development of public awareness on health-related accident prevention in Asian countries
Background and Objectives
The Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established a committee to consider measures against health-related accidents, due to an increasing number of serious traffic accidents caused by health disorders. Health-related accident prevention has been recognized as an important aspect in traffic accident countermeasures.
Due to inadequate countermeasures regarding sleep apnea syndrome and visual field defect among commercial drivers, we have conducted empirical studies and have found these health conditions may increase the risk of traffic accidents. In 2019, we held symposiums to introduce the findings of this project and promote public awareness on health-related accident prevention at two cities in Japan (Tokyo and Ehime). The aim of this project is, based on our previous findings, to develop public awareness to promote prevention of health-related accidents, and to contribute for mitigating them in Asian countries.
Expected Results
The subject areas of this project are China and Thailand. Traffic accident countermeasures in these two countries have become an important public health issue due to East Asian economic development in recent years and have resulted in both respective nations rapidly growing automobile markets, with China now being the world’s largest. As in Japan, a rapidly aging society and a growing epidemic of lifestyle-related disease such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes have become major public health issues, due to social changes accompanied by economic development. However, despite measures to address health-related accidents being imperative in China and Thailand, little has been done. Through this project, we will introduce and discuss the results of our previous studies and share knowledge and action plans related to health-related accidents in Japan to traffic experts and medical professionals in China and Thailand. This project is expected to be a trigger for action to prevent health-related accidents in Asian countries.