With over two deaths occurring per minute and over 3200 per day, road traffic crashes remain the leading killer of children and youth aged between 5 and 29 years, making road safety an urgent global phenomenon.
In a recent report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) unveiled that road traffic deaths have fallen by 5% to 1.19 million annually from 2010.
“Yet, road crashes remain a persistent global health crisis, with pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users facing an acute and rising risk of death,” emphasized the same source.
The report shows that 28% of global road traffic deaths occurred in the WHO South-East Asia Region, 25% in the Western Pacific Region, 19% in the African Region, 12% in the Region of the Americas, 11% in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and 5% in the European Region.
Called “Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023”, the document explains how 53% of all road traffic fatalities are vulnerable road users, including pedestrians (23%); riders of powered two- and three-wheelers such as motorcycles (21%); cyclists (6%); and users of micro-mobility devices such as e-scooters (3%).
However, deaths among car and other 4-wheeled light vehicle occupants slightly decreased, making 30% of global fatalities.
The study shows a startling lack of advancement in safety regulations and standards. Out of 140 nations ( two-thirds of UN Member States), only six have regulations that comply with WHO best practices for all risk factors (speeding, drunk driving, and using motorcycle helmets, seatbelts, and child restraints).
Remarkably, 23 of these nations changed their legal frameworks to align with WHO best practices after the 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety.
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