Last updated: 28 september, 2010 - 13:27 GMT
Road Kill
As the United Nations gears up for a new decade of action to improve road safety across the world, Sheena McDonald looks at whether its lofty ambition to save five million lives over the next ten years can work on the ground.
Sheena McDonald was left fighting for her life after a road accident in 1999
Road deaths are threatening to overtake malaria and HIV, in how many lives they take around the world, particularly in poorer countries.
In this two-part series, Sheena visits some of the world's most dangerous roads in Kenya and Costa Rica to find out why the death toll in developing countries is rising - when the solutions to road accidents are so simple.
The Millennium Development Goals push countries to work hard to improve the mortality rates for children under five, but there are no goals to stop those same children being knocked down when they start school.
Follow Sheena - who was nearly killed by a speeding police car just over ten years ago - as she visits accident blackspots, meets victims and people campaigning for better road safety, and challenges those in power who do not believe it is important enough.
Part One - Kenya
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Sheena's first stop is Nairobi, Kenya - where according to figures from the World Health Organisation - 13,000 people die as a result of road traffic injuries.
It's a woman with a tiny baby and luggage on the back of a motorbike with no helmet.
Sheena McDonald
Although government figures suggest a much lower number of 3,000, the task of improving road safety amidst the ever-growing number of highways, police corruption and people's stupidity to take shortcuts - rather than use pedestrian crossings - is proving quite a challenge.
Will Sheena be convinced that Kenya is taking road safety seriously?
First broadcast on 15 of November 2010 on BBC World Service and also broadcast on click
BBC Radio 4.
Part Two - Costa Rica
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Sheena's second stop is Costa Rica, in Central America - where the country has been heralded as a model in how to reduce road deaths.
Costa Rica is a party nation where alcohol fuelled drink-driving, is one of the major causes of road deaths.
Her mother and I miss not having her hugs.
Alehandro Trejos, drink-driving campaigner
Although the government introduced new road traffic laws in March 2010 - many feel that this "western style" of authority is the wrong way to go.
The legal limit of blood alcohol concentration is much lower than that of the UK, the US and Kenya but does this new commitment to road safety equate to fewer deaths on the road?
Sheena travels through the country to find out if this new legislation is changing the behaviour of Costa Ricans.
First broadcast on 22 of November 2010 on BBC World Service and also broadcast on click BBC Radio 4.
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