Findings:
- Each year, traffic-related collisions claim the lives of approximately 1.19 million people.
- Traffic-related injuries are the leading cause of mortality among children and young people aged 5 to 29.
- Despite around 60% of the world’s vehicles being in middle and low-income countries, 92% of road fatalities occur in those countries.
- Over half of traffic accident victims are vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
- Traffic-related collisions cost most countries around 3% of their GDP.
- In resolution A/RES/74/299, the United Nations General Assembly set the goal of halving the number of deaths and injuries caused by traffic by 2030.
Context:
Approximately 1.1 million people die each year due to traffic accidents, with 20 to 50 million suffering non-fatal injuries, many resulting in disabilities; according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023.
Traffic-related injuries cause considerable economic losses for individuals, their families, and countries due to treatment costs and the productivity loss of those who die or become disabled, as well as the time that family members of the injured must allocate to care for them. Traffic collisions cost most countries around 3% of their GDP.
Risk Groups:
Over 90% of traffic-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, with the highest mortality rates in Africa and the lowest in Europe. Even in high-income countries, individuals of lower socioeconomic status are more at risk of being involved in these collisions.
Age-Related Risks:
Traffic injuries are the leading cause of mortality among children and young people aged 5 to 29. Two-thirds of traffic accident deaths occur among people of working age (18-59 years).
Gender Perspective:
Men are three times more likely to die in a traffic accident than women.
The safe system approach: taking into account human error
Transportation systems should respond to user needs and forgive human error, though this remains a widespread challenge. The safe system approach advocates for a safe transportation system for all road users, considering the vulnerability of people to serious traffic injuries and recognizing the need to account for human error.
Risk Factors: Speed
There is a direct relationship between increased average speed and the likelihood and severity of a collision. For example, for every 1% increase in average speed, the risk of a fatal collision increases by 4%, and the risk of a serious collision increases by 3%. The risk of death for pedestrians struck head-on by a car increases significantly, for instance, if the speed increases from 50 km/h to 65 km/h, this risk is 4.5 times higher.
Driving under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Driving under the influence of alcohol or any psychoactive substance increases the risk of a collision causing death or serious injury. In cases of driving under the influence of alcohol, the risk of a collision is present even with a low blood alcohol level and increases significantly when the driver has a level equal to or greater than 0.04 g/dl.
Driving under the influence of drugs increases the risk of a collision to a varying extent depending on the substance consumed.
Non-Use of Helmet (for Motorcyclists), Seat Belt, and Child Restraint Systems:
Proper helmet use by motorcyclists can reduce the risk of death in a traffic accident up to six times and the risk of brain injury by up to 74%. Seat belt use can reduce the risk of death among vehicle occupants by up to 50%, and the use of child restraint systems can reduce the risk of death among children by up to 71%.
Mobile Phones and Other Distractions While Driving:
Distractions, including the use of mobile phones, can significantly impact driving. Drivers using phones while driving are four times more likely to be involved in a collision. The use of hands-free devices is not much safer than using a phone without such a device. Texting substantially increases the risk of an accident.
Lack of Road Infrastructure Safety:
Road layout can significantly affect safety, and all roads should theoretically be designed with the safety of all users in mind. Pedestrian-friendly streets, bike lanes, safe crossings, and other road planning measures are essential to reduce the risk of injuries among vulnerable users.
Lack of Vehicle Safety:
Vehicle safety is essential to prevent collisions and reduce the likelihood of serious injuries. UN-recommended vehicle safety standards, if applied to national manufacturing and production criteria, could save many lives.
Insufficient Post-Collision Care:
Delays in detecting the need for post-collision assistance and providing it increase the severity of injuries. Reaction time plays an extremely important role in treating these injuries, where a few minutes’ delay can be the difference between life and death.
Inadequate Compliance with Traffic Regulations:
Ineffective enforcement of traffic regulations related to drunk driving, seat belt use, speed limits, helmet use, and child restraint systems will hinder the achievement of UN global goals. To ensure effective compliance with these regulations, it is necessary to establish, periodically update, and implement national, municipal, and local regulations and rules for the prevention of the mentioned risk factors.
Prevention:
Traffic collision injuries can be prevented, requiring governments to address road safety holistically. Effective interventions include designing safer infrastructures, incorporating road safety features into land use and transportation planning, improving vehicle safety features, enhancing post-accident care, enacting laws related to key risks, monitoring compliance, and increasing public awareness.
World Health Organization (WHO) Response:
WHO collaborates with Member States and partners from all sectors to support the assessment, implementation, and planning of road safety. As the UN agency responsible for road safety, WHO plays a crucial role in guiding global efforts by promoting road safety at the highest level, collecting and exchanging best practices, and raising awareness of road safety.
WHO acts as the secretariat for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030), aiming to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic accidents by at least 50% by 2030. WHO collaborates with various partners to provide technical assistance to countries, such as working with the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from traffic collisions in different low and middle-income countries.
WHO chairs the UN Road Safety Collaboration Group and organizes and hosts high-level awareness events, such as the UN Road Safety Weeks and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, held annually.
– Anasevi 14 December 2023 –
