Nine in 10 deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries, and fatalities in these countries are disproportionately higher when set against the number of vehicles and roads they have
New Delhi:
Thirty-five more countries made notable progress, reducing the deaths by 30 per cent to 50 per cent, it said.
The report has noted that 28 per cent of the global road traffic deaths occurred in the WHO South-East Asia Region, 25 per cent in the Western Pacific Region, 19 per cent in the African Region, 12 per cent in the Region of the Americas, 11 per cent in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and 5 per cent in the European Region.
Nine in 10 deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries, and fatalities in these countries are disproportionately higher when set against the number of vehicles and roads they have.
The risk of death is three times higher in low-income than high-income countries, yet low-income countries have just 1 per cent of the world’s motor vehicles.
”Fifty-three per cent of all road traffic fatalities are vulnerable road users including pedestrians (23 per cent); riders of powered two- and three-wheelers such as motorcycles (21 per cent); cyclists (6 per cent); and users of micro-mobility devices such as e-scooters (3 per cent). Deaths among car and other 4-wheeled light vehicle occupants fell slightly to 30 per cent of global fatalities,” the report said.
The pedestrian deaths rose 3 per cent to 2,74,000 between 2010 and 2021, accounting for 23 per cent of the global fatalities. Deaths among cyclists rose by nearly 20 per cent to 71,000, accounting for 6 per cent of the global deaths.
”Meanwhile, research indicates that 80 per cent of the world’s roads fail to meet pedestrian safety standards and just 0.2 per cent have cycle lanes, leaving these road users dangerously exposed.
”And while 9 in 10 people surveyed identify as pedestrians, just a quarter of countries have policies to promote walking, cycling and public transport,” the report said.
According to WHO, the report reveals an alarming lack of progress in advancing laws and safety standards.
Just six countries have laws that meet WHO best practice for all risk factors (speeding, drunk–driving, and use of motorcycle helmets, seatbelts, and child restraints) while 140 countries (two-thirds of UN Member States) have such laws for at least one of these risk factors.
Of note, 23 of these countries modified their laws to meet WHO best practices since the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018, the report said.
”The global motor-vehicle fleet is set to double by 2030. Yet just 35 countries – less than a fifth of UN Member States – legislate on all key vehicle safety features (advanced braking systems, front- and side-impact protection),” a WHO statement said.
”The report also reveals major gaps in ensuring safe road infrastructure, with just 51 countries – a quarter of UN Member States – having laws that require safety inspections that cover all road users,” it said.