There are many causes for traffic accidents; and many passive safety measures, that, though they do not avoid accidents, may well avoid death as a result of them. If we had to focus on the most important ones, i.e., those that would save mores lives and prevent more accidents, undoubtedly those would be:

1. Speed
This is the main cause of serious accidents and fatalities, to a point that an effective control of speeding is considered a basic and unavoidable element for a significant decrease in fatalities. At more than 90 km/h (56 m/h) a car gets more and more difficult to control, and the death risk of its occupants doubles with every 10 km/h (6 m/h) of speed increase.

2. Alcohol
Another main cause of traffic accidents, which according to estimates is present in 50% of fatalities (drivers, victims, etc.). Even very small quantities of alcohol (just a glass of wine, beer or cider) diminish the person's ability to drive, slow reactions and make for awkward maneuvers, dull senses and diminished attention; at the same time they generate a false sense of security that predisposes people to speed and violate all kinds of traffic rules.

3. Safety Belt
This is considered as the best life insurance inside a vehicle. If seat belt use was generalized in Argentina, both on front and back seats, not only on highways, but also in cities and towns, more than 1,100 lives would be saved each year, on account of this safety measure alone.

4. Helmet
It is estimated that approximately half of cyclists and bikers who are now dead or totally disabled, would not have suffered those consequences had they worn the proper helmet. Enforcing helmet use is a fundamental prerequisite to significantly decreasing fatalities among teenagers and youth (and adults, too) who dare to challenge death on two wheels.