Global Status Report On Road Safety 2023 : WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a 5% decrease in annual road traffic deaths worldwide from 2010 to 2021, totaling 1.19 million fatalities
- According to the WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, India witnessed a rise in road traffic fatalities from 1.34 lakh in 2010 to 1.54 lakh in 2021, reflecting a 15% increase.
- This contrasts with 108 UN member nations that reported a decrease in road traffic deaths.
- Ten countries, including Belarus, Denmark, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, successfully reduced road traffic deaths by over 50%.
- 35 countries achieved notable progress, experiencing a reduction in fatalities ranging from 30% to 50%.
- Road traffic crashes have become the leading cause of death for children and youth aged five to 29 years, ranking as the 12th leading cause of death across all age groups. Two-thirds of these deaths occur among people of working age.
- The global motor vehicle fleet increased by 160% since 2010.
- Annual fatality rates per 1 lakh vehicles dropped from 79 deaths to 47 deaths, marking a 41% reduction.
- The report highlights regional disparities, with 28% of global road traffic deaths occurring in the WHO’s South-East Asia Region.
- Other significant contributions come from the Western Pacific Region (25%), the African Region (19%), the Region of the Americas (12%), the Eastern Mediterranean Region (11%), and the European Region (5%).
- Worldwide four-wheel vehicle occupants constitute 30% of fatalities, pedestrians make up 23%, and powered two- and three-wheeler users contribute 21%.
- Cyclists and users of micro-mobility devices, including e-scooters, account for 6% and 3% of fatalities, respectively.
