Every year, the staggering number of lives lost due to road traffic crashes casts a long shadow across the globe. Approximately 1.19 million people are killed annually in road traffic accidents, making it a leading cause of death and injury worldwide. This grim statistic highlights not only the immense human cost but also the significant socio-economic burden associated with these preventable tragedies. Understanding the scale of this issue is the first step towards implementing effective strategies to save lives and create safer roads for everyone.
The impact of road traffic crashes extends far beyond the immediate loss of life. For every person killed, many more – between 20 and 50 million – sustain non-fatal injuries, often resulting in long-term disabilities. These injuries place immense strain on healthcare systems, families, and national economies. Road traffic injuries are, in fact, the number one cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years, representing a devastating loss of potential and productive years of life. Economically, road traffic crashes impose a heavy burden, costing most countries an estimated 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP). This economic drain stems from healthcare expenses, lost productivity due to death or disability, and the societal costs of supporting affected families.
While road traffic crashes are a global problem, their impact is disproportionately felt in low- and middle-income countries. Despite having only around 60% of the world’s vehicles, these nations account for a staggering 92% of all road traffic fatalities. The reasons for this disparity are complex and multifaceted, often linked to factors such as less developed road infrastructure, older vehicle fleets, weaker traffic law enforcement, and limited access to post-crash care. Within wealthier nations as well, socioeconomic disparities play a role, with individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds facing a higher risk of involvement in road traffic incidents. Geographically, road traffic death rates are highest in the WHO African Region and lowest in the European Region, further emphasizing the uneven distribution of risk.
Several factors contribute to the high number of deaths in car crashes each year. These can be broadly categorized and addressed through a comprehensive “safe system approach”. This approach recognizes that humans make errors and aims to design a transport system that minimizes the consequences of these errors. Key elements of this approach include focusing on safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicle speeds, safe vehicles themselves, and promoting safe road user behavior.
Speeding is a critical risk factor. Increased speed directly correlates with both the likelihood of a crash and the severity of injuries sustained. Even a small increase in average speed can significantly raise the risk of fatal crashes. For instance, a mere 1% increase in average speed leads to a 4% increase in the risk of a fatal crash. The vulnerability of pedestrians is also dramatically increased by speed; the risk of death for a pedestrian struck by a car front increases sharply from 50 km/h to 65 km/h.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances is another major contributor to road traffic deaths. Alcohol impairs judgment and reaction time, even at low blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). The risk of a crash escalates significantly when a driver’s BAC reaches or exceeds 0.04 g/dl. Similarly, the use of psychoactive drugs, such as amphetamines, drastically increases crash risk.
The non-use of safety equipment, such as motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints, dramatically increases the risk of severe injury or death in a crash. Correct helmet use can reduce the risk of death in a motorcycle crash by over six times and significantly reduce the risk of brain injury. Seat-belts can reduce the risk of death among vehicle occupants by up to 50%, and child restraints can lead to a substantial reduction in fatalities among infants.
Distracted driving, particularly due to mobile phone use, is a growing concern. Drivers using mobile phones are approximately four times more likely to be involved in a crash. Mobile phone use impairs reaction times, lane keeping, and the ability to maintain safe following distances. Even hands-free devices do not eliminate the risk, and texting while driving significantly amplifies the danger.
Unsafe road infrastructure also plays a crucial role. Road design should prioritize the safety of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Features like footpaths, cycle lanes, safe crossing points, and traffic calming measures are essential for protecting vulnerable road users.
Unsafe vehicles contribute to both crash occurrence and injury severity. Implementing and enforcing UN vehicle safety regulations, such as those requiring front and side impact protection, electronic stability control, airbags, and seat-belts, can save countless lives. Without these basic safety standards, the risk of traffic injuries is significantly elevated for both vehicle occupants and those outside the vehicle.
Inadequate post-crash care exacerbates the consequences of road traffic crashes. Delays in providing medical care can be the difference between life and death. Improving post-crash care involves ensuring timely access to pre-hospital care and enhancing the quality of both pre-hospital and hospital treatment through specialized training and resources.
Finally, inadequate enforcement of traffic laws undermines road safety efforts. Laws regarding drink-driving, seat-belt use, speed limits, helmet use, and child restraints must be consistently and effectively enforced to achieve their intended impact. If laws are perceived as lax or unenforced, compliance diminishes, and their ability to influence behavior is severely compromised.
Road traffic injuries are preventable. Governments and societies must adopt a holistic approach to road safety, involving collaboration across multiple sectors, including transport, police, health, and education, as well as the private sector and civil society organizations. Effective prevention strategies include designing safer road infrastructure, improving vehicle safety standards, enhancing post-crash care, enacting and enforcing robust traffic laws, and raising public awareness about road safety risks and preventative measures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a leading role in global road safety efforts, working with member states and partners to support road safety evaluation, implementation, and planning. As the lead agency for road safety within the United Nations, WHO advocates for road safety at the highest levels, disseminates best practices, and raises public awareness. WHO is also the secretariat for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which has set the ambitious target of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. Through initiatives like the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and the UN Road Safety Collaboration mechanism, WHO provides technical support to countries and promotes global cooperation to address this critical public health issue and reduce the number of people who die in car crashes each year.
