Message 1: "Be a safe driver" - Message 2: "Be a safe road user"

Road traffic accidents constitute the first cause of unintentional injury death in the European Union (EU). In EU-25, an estimated 43,000 people die every year due to motor vehicle crashes. Nevertheless, road traffic injuries can be prevented and their consequences can be alleviated if the appropriate practices, policies, strategies and road safety regulations are adopted. This paper aims: (a) to describe the magnitude and the socio-economic burden of road traffic injuries in the countries of the EU, (b) to outline underlying risk factors and, (c) to present evidence based preventive practices that reduce the likelihood of road traffic injuries occurrence. Some of these measures are therefore included in the European Code Against Injuries (ECAI) aiming to raise public awareness regarding injury prevention.