The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released a report on the current status of road traffic safety globally.

• 1.25 million people die each year from road traffic crashes
• 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries
  • Only 54% of the world vehicles are in these countries
• Countries in Africa have the highest death rates per capita
• Vulneable groups include:
  • Motorcyclists (23% of global deaths)
  • Pedestrians (22% of global deaths)
  • Cyclists (4% of global deaths)

From a postive perspective, road traffic deaths are stabilzing even though the number of motor vehicles are rapidly increasing.

 

The bottom line- injuries are preventable.  Continued policy efforts, laws with enforncement, can save lives. Specific life saving legislation includes:

• seat belt laws that apply to all occupants
• maximum speed, such as urban speed limits of 50 Km/h (31 mph)
• child restraint, based upon age, height or weight
• helmet laws that apply to all drivers, passengers and road types
• drink-driving laws with specific blood alcohol concentrations (e.g.: 0.05 g/dl or less)

References

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/road-safety-report/en/