Hans von Holst Royal Institute of Technology, WHO Collaborating Center, Sweden Ake Nygren Karolinska Institute, WHO Collaborating Center, Sweden Ake E. Andersson Institute for Futures Studies, Sweden n a recent study initiated by Harvard University, World Bank and I World Health Organization it was concluded that road injuries will be ranked from number 9 today to number 3 within the next two to three decades if authorities all over the world do not pay more attention to this significant problem. Injuries in traffic do not only concern the patient himself but also the relatives from an emotional point of view and the society from a socio economic point. Both emerging markets and industrial countries have significant experi ence of the events following a traffic accident. Much effort has been directed towards transportation of the victim from the scene of the accident to intensive care unit in the hospital. Simultaneously, the awareness of our knowledge about how these injuries should be prevented is striking. The focus of this second book of transportation, traffic safety and health is to further present some of the latest aspects in the area of mobility and its rela tion to planning of an optimal traffic safety with respect to our present knowl edge in the field. The volume contains a collection of contributions presented of scientists, clinicians and administrators at The Second International Conference on Transportation, Traffic Safety and Health, held in Brussels, Belgium, 1996."

Modern society is, to a great extent, characterised by a tremendous growth in transportation -- the freedom to travel is a central and fundamental human value. As mobility has increased so have health problems. The number of fatalities and serious injuries caused by road traffic is unacceptable, and, while a downward trend is visible in most countries, there still remains a lot to be done. This collection of contributions by scientists and administrators presents some of the latest findings in the area of mobility and its relation to medical treatment, rehabilitation, public health and prevention.

Ake Nygren Karolinska Institute, Sweden would like to welcome you on behalf of Karolinska Institute, I one of the organizers and initiators of this series of confer- ences on traffic safety. The conference we are opening today is the fourth in the series. Karolinska Institute is the largest medical university in Sweden. It is dedicated to improving health through research, educa- tion and dissemination of information and ideas. The series on traffic safety is one of the ways in which we are disseminating information and ideas on an international front. Karolinska Institute is 190 years old. The Medico Chirurgiska Institute was originally established in 1811 by royal decree after wars and cholera epidemics. In 1822, it became known by the name "Carolinska" . Amongst many other international endeavors, Karolinska Institute is perhaps best known for the nomination and appointments of Nobel Prize winners in medicine and physiology. Under the terms of Alfred Nobel's will, the prize winners are nominated and chosen by the Nobel Assembly of Karolinska Institute. During the hundred years that the prize has been in existence, several researchers from Karolinska Institute have become laureates. These are Hugo Theorell in 1955; Ragnar Granit in 1967; Ulf von Euler in 1970; and Sune Bergstrom and Bengt Samuelsson in 1982. In 1987, the medicine prize was awarded to Tonegawa from v Japan and in 1994 the literature prize was awarded to Oe Kenzaburo.

Rodney E. Slater Secretary of Transportation, U. S. Department of Transportation know many of you have traveled great distances to be here. I To me, that shows not only your dedication to the cause, but demonstrates how very important transportation safety is becoming throughout the world. So I am very thankful to the main organizers of this third annual conference -- all of whom are from Sweden: Dr. Hans von Holst of the Royal Institute of Technology; Dr. Ake Nygren of the Karolinska Institute; Dr. Ake E. Andersson of the Institute for Futures Studies; and finally, Dr. Arne Witt16v and Lars Anell from AB Volvo. And let me give a special welcome to our friends from Africa. I will be visiting a number of African nations in January. And while my main mission is to promote trade and investment with the United States, we will be talking about safety, too. Airline safety, for example, is a big concern, as Africa grows and prospers and the demand for air travel expands. We discussed it during recent meetings of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal several weeks ago. And we will do so again during my trip. plan to talk about how my department can help the Also, we many nations of Africa improve highway safety. Africa relies heavily on road transportation. But highway fatalities are very high. And the economic costs are very steep, especially for Africa's fragile, emerging v market economies.