Road safety facts

Key facts

• There are 1.25 million road traffic deaths globally.
• Road traffic crashes are the number one cause of death among those aged 15–29 years.
• 90 percent of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
• Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of motorized two-wheelers and their passengers.
• Drinking alcohol and driving increases the risk of a crash.
• Wearing a good-quality helmet can reduce the risk of death from a road crash by 40 percent.
• Wearing a seat-belt reduces the risk of death among front-seat passengers by 40–65 percent.
• The newly adopted 2030 Sustainable Development Goals set a road safety target of halving the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2020.
• Infant seats, child seats and booster seats can reduce child deaths by 54–80 percent in the event of a crash.
• Vehicles sold in 80 percent of all countries worldwide fail to meet basic safety standards.

Key risk factors:

Speed

An increase in average speed is directly related both to the likelihood of a crash occurring and to the severity of the consequences of the crash.

Drink–driving

Drinking and driving increases both the risk of a crash and the likelihood that death or serious injury will result.

Motorcycle helmets

Wearing a quality motorcycle helmet correctly can reduce the risk of death by almost 40 percent and the risk of severe injury by over 70 percent.

Seat-belts and child restraints

Wearing a seat-belt reduces the risk of a fatality among front-seat passengers by 40 percent to 50 percent and of rear-seat passengers by between 25 percent and 75 percent. Correctly installed and used child restraints reduce deaths among infants by approximately 70 percent and deaths among small children by between 54 percent and 80 percent.

Distracted driving

Lack of concentration when driving is mostly caused by use of mobile phones, which makes drivers have slower reaction times, impaired ability to keep in the correct lane and shorter following distances.

Unsafe road infrastructure

The design of roads can have an impact on safety. Roads should have adequate facilities for all road users from motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Lack of facilities such as footpaths, cycling lanes and safer crossing points can lead to road crashes.

Unsafe vehicles

Safe vehicles play a critical role in averting crashes and reducing serious injury. The UN has set regulations on vehicle safety. If applied to countries’ manufacturing and production standards, would potentially save many lives. These include electronic stability control, fit airbags and seat-belts. Without these basic standards, the risk of traffic injuries for those in the vehicle and those outside increases.

Inadequate post-crash care

Delays in providing care for those involved in a road traffic crash increases the severity of injuries.

Inadequate law enforcement of traffic laws

Lack of enforcement of traffic laws is critical. Expected reduction in road traffic deaths, injuries and change in behaviours cannot be achieved if laws are not enforced.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)