Global Status Report On Road Safety 2015

The Global status report on road safety 2018 launched by WHO in December 2018 highlights that the number of annual road traffic deaths has reached 1.35 million. Road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of people aged 5-29 years.The burden is disproportionately borne by pedestrians cyclists and motorcyclists in particular those living in developing countries. The report suggests that the price paid for mobility is too high especially because proven measures exist. Drastic action is needed to put these measures in place to meet any future global target that might be set and save lives.

"Over 1.2 million people die each year on the world' roads, and between 20 and 50 million suffer non-fatal injuries. In most regions of the world this epidemic of road traffic injuries is still increasing. In the past five years most countries have endorsed the recommendations of the World report on road traffic injury prevention which give guidance on how countries can implement a comprehensive approach to improving road safety and reducing the death toll on their roads. To date, however, there has been no global assessment of road safety that indicates the extent to which this approach is being implemented. This Global status report on road safety is the first broad assessment of the status of road safety in 178 countries, using data drawn from a standardized survey conducted in 2008. The results provide a benchmark that countries can use to assess their road safety position relative to other countries, while internationally the data presented can collectively be considered as a global "baseline"against which progress over time can be measured. " - p. [v11]

In 2013, there were almost 85,000 deaths from road traffic injuries in the WHO European Region. Although the regional mortality rate is the lowest when compared to other WHO regions, with 9.3 deaths per 100,000 population, there are wide disparities in the rates of road traffic deaths between countries of the Region. This requires more systematic efforts if the global target of a 50% reduction in road crash deaths is to be achieved by 2020. Laws and practices on key risk factors such as regulating speed appropriate to road type, drunk-driving, and use of seat belts, motorcycle helmets and child restraints are assessed to reduce the risk of road traffic injury. Many countries need to further strengthen their road safety legislation and enforcement in order to protect their populations, improve road user behavior and reduce the number of crashes. While 95% of the population in the Region is covered by comprehensive laws in line with best practice for seat belts, only 47% of the population is adequately protected by laws for speed, 45% for helmet use, 33% for drunk-driving and 71% for use of child restraints. Much can be gained from improving the safety of vehicles, having better road infrastructure and promoting sustainable physically active forms of mobility as alternatives to car use. Concerted policy efforts with systems approaches are needed to protect all road users in the Region.

"The Global status report on road safety 2015, reflecting information from 180 countries, indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths has plateaued at 1.25 million per year, with the highest road traffic fatality rates in low-income countries. In the last three years, 17 countries have aligned at least one of their laws with best practice on seat-belts, drink-driving, speed, motorcycle helmets or child restraints. While there has been progress towards improving road safety legislation and in making vehicles safer, the report shows that the pace of change is too slow. Urgent action is needed to achieve the ambitious target for road safety reflected in the newly adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: halving the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2020. Made possible through funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, this report is the third in the series, and provides a snapshot of the road safety situation globally, highlighting the gaps and the measures needed to best drive progress."--Publisher's description.

The Global status report on road safety 2023 shows that the number of annual road traffic deaths has fallen slightly to 1.19 million. The report shows that efforts to improve road safety are having an impact, and that significant reductions in road traffic deaths can be made if proven measures are applied. Despite this, the price paid for mobility remains too high. Road traffic injuries remain the leading killer of children and young people aged 5-29 years. More than half of fatalities occur among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, in particular those living in low and middle-income countries. Urgent action is needed if the global goal of at least halving road traffic deaths and injuries by the year 2030 is to be achieved.

Roughly 1.25 million people die each year around the world in traffic accidents. This report covers goals set by the United Nations Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, introduced in 2011. It provides a comprehensive overview, including the status and key results of its goals, as well as descriptions of specific UNECE Inland Transport Committee initiatives and information on the challenges the road safety community faces. The main conclusion is that political will, and the introduction and use of national strategies are likely to be the difference makers in halving the number of deaths and injuries by 2020. The path to road safety is a personal, societal and an organizational obligation as a joint responsibility outlined in this publication.