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Transport-related health risks in the present scenario are resulting in loss of millions of human life annually. About 1.3 million people lose their lives every year due
to air pollution in urban areas (much of it generated by transportation) (WHO 2011a,
2011b). In addition, traffic injuries contribute to death of nearly 1.3 million people
every year, most of which occur in the middle- and low-income countries. As per the
WHO (2009), nearly 3.2 million lose their life every year due to physical inactivity
(WHO 2009).
The reason for accidents and death could be due to the following:
1. Private vehicle parked on roads without footpaths (Fig. 9.4)
2. Private transportation used by wealthy people in spite of providing sufficient
mass transportation (Fig. 9.5)
3. Poor road-crossing infrastructure (Fig. 9.5)
4. Poor people sleeping on footpaths (Fig. 9.6)
5. Footpaths used for other purposes (Fig. 9.7)
Fig. 9.2 Passengers
pushing a bus which has
halted due to problem in
the engine
Fig. 9.3 Passengers riding
on the roof top of public
transport operated by a
private agency putting
themselves at risk
9.2 Transportation