Document brings together scientific evidence on the impact of speed in traffic and reinforces the importance of medical evaluation when driving
The (Brazilian Association of Traffic Medicine) published the guideline “Human Tolerance to Impacts: implications for road safety”. The document brings together scientific data on the effects of speed on the severity of traffic collisions.
The publication takes place during the validity of the provisional measure that authorizes the (National Driving License) without physical and mental aptitude exams.
In a note, Abramet informed that the guideline consolidates scientific data to reinforce that administrative decisions in traffic need to consider the biomechanical limits of the human body and the direct impact of speed on the severity of accidents.
“The guideline is based on a central principle: the human body has non-negotiable biomechanical limits and they must be the starting point of public traffic policies”, highlighted the statement.
The document demonstrates that the energy released in an accident grows exponentially with speed and quickly exceeds the physiological capacity to absorb the impact. Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are most affected.
“The guideline highlights that we are not just dealing with behavior or engineering, but with biological limits. When these limits are ignored, the result is an increase in deaths and serious consequences, even at speeds considered legal.”, stated the president of Abramet, Antonio Meira Júnior.
DATA
The document shows that small speed reductions generate significant drops in the risk of death. Apparently modest increases disproportionately increase the severity of claims. The guideline also draws attention to the growing impact of the expansion of the fleet of SUVs and vehicles with a raised front, associated with a greater risk of fatal injuries to pedestrians and cyclists, even at moderate speeds.
The standard also shows that, in collisions with users outside the vehicle, speed accounts for around 90% of the energy transferred to the victim’s body. Recent data shows that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists account for more than 3 quarters of traffic-related hospital admissions.
The guideline addresses implications for the work of traffic doctors, a topic assessed by Abramet as “especially sensitive” given the scenario of automatic driver’s license renewal.
“The document reinforces that clinical conditions such as aging, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, sleep disorders, osteoporosis and trauma sequelae significantly reduce human tolerance to impacts and deceleration, requiring periodic and individualized assessment by the traffic doctor.”
According to the document, fitness to drive is not a permanent state, but varies depending on health condition, age and the context of exposure to risk.
The standard also presents recommendations for public managers, educational institutions and society, defending the adoption of speed limits compatible with human tolerance, in addition to permanent speed management policies and educational campaigns.
“By bringing together epidemiological, biomechanical and clinical data, Abramet reinforces that decisions about traffic cannot be based solely on fluidity or administrative convenience”, highlighted Abramet.
CNH RENEWAL
The CNH automatic renewal program, regulated by , benefited . The measure includes drivers who are on the (National Positive Driver Register) and saved R$226 million, which would be paid in fees, exams and administrative costs.
The majority of those benefiting are drivers with a category B driver’s license, exclusively for cars, with 52% of automatic renewals. Drivers with an AB license, which allows driving cars and motorcycles, accounted for 45% of those benefiting and those who only drive motorcycles (category A) accounted for 3% of automatic renewals. The rest are professional drivers (categories C and D).
To be part of the RNPC, the driver cannot have had a record of traffic violations in the last 12 months and must register through the application (Digital Traffic Card) or the portal (Services Portal of the National Traffic Secretariat).
Some groups of drivers will not be entitled to the automatic process and must continue looking for state Detrans. This is the case for drivers aged 70 or over, who need to renew their document every 3 years.
This is also the case for those whose driver’s license validity was reduced on medical recommendation, in cases of progressive illnesses or conditions that require continuous health monitoring, in addition to those whose document expired more than 30 days ago.
For drivers over 50 years old, who need to renew their driver’s license every 5 years, the automatic process will be allowed once.
With information from Agência Brasil
