18/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Each year, between 80,000 and 90,000 people lose their lives in a road accident. Although the transport-related death rate is clearly higher in countries with low income than in the industrialised countries, road accidents are the main cause of mortality among young people in Europe. In this context, the International Union of Public Transport (UITP) has just launched an appeal to the governments and to the authorities to begin contemplating the development of integrated solutions for collective passenger transport. Stressing that public transport has a high safety record, the association's general secretary, Hans Rat, considers it is extremely important to invest in effective public transport.