Overview of the Importance of Occupational Medicine, Road Safety, and Injury Prevention

Road Safety 

 Through the years, injuries remain a significant yet preventable threat to public health worldwide, contributing to illness and death across communities, workplaces, and road systems. The World Health Organization (2023) emphasizes that more than 1.19 million people die each year due to road traffic injuries, and more than 50 million people across the world experience non-fatal injuries annually, negatively affecting not only the healthcare system but also the countries’ economy. Mulugeta et al. (2024) reported that around 90% of deaths caused by injuries are typically observed in low- and middle-income countries. In ASEAN countries, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, around 35.5 million cases of injury were recorded in 2021, accounting for around 317,000 deaths (Van der Lubbe et al., 2025). Road injuries are considered the primary contributor to mortality and morbidity in the said countries, particularly in Thailand and Malaysia, where the highest age-standardized Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) rates were observed (Van der Lubbe et al., 2025). This burden is also influenced by demographic and socioeconomic factors across different countries. Around two-thirds of road traffic injuries involve working-age individuals aged 18 to 59 years, with men having a three times higher likelihood of death in such incidents compared to females (World Health Organization, 2023). Moreover, individuals in low- to middle-income countries are more likely to be affected by road traffic deaths, accounting for more than 90% of such fatalities (World Health Organization, 2023). Specifically, individuals of working age with lower socioeconomic status, even in more progressive countries, have a higher likelihood of being involved in road traffic accidents (World Health Organization, 2023). In particular, Gu et al. (2025) mentioned that the common cause of fatal road injuries is work-related (coming from and to work; and along route of work destinations) 72.2% among males and 41.4% among females (41.4%). These findings highlight the important role of both occupational and environmental factors in the occurrence of injuries, emphasizing the relevance of occupational health in addressing injury-related issues and public safety, particularly in workplace settings.