Kinetic energy management in road traffic injury prevention: A call for action

By virtue of their variability, mass and speed have important roles in transferring energies during
a crash incidence (kinetic energy). The sum of kinetic energy is important in determining an injury
severity and that is equal to one half of the vehicle mass multiplied by the square of the vehicle
speed. To meet the Vision Zero policy (a traffic safety policy) prevention activities should be
focused on vehicle speed management. Understanding the role of kinetic energy will help to
develop measures to reduce the generation, distribution, and effects of this energy during a road
traffic crash. Road traffic injury preventive activities necessitate Kinetic energy management to
improve road user safety.