**Key Facts**
Every year, approximately 1.19 million lives are tragically lost due to road traffic crashes, with an additional 20 to 50 million people sustaining non-fatal injuries, some resulting in disabilities.
These incidents pose significant economic burdens on individuals, families, and entire nations, stemming from costs of treatment, lost productivity, and disruptions to caregiving responsibilities. In fact, road traffic crashes can account for as much as 3% of a country’s gross domestic product.
Shockingly, over 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with the highest rates in the WHO African Region and the lowest in the European Region. Furthermore, road traffic injuries are the primary cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 to 29, with two-thirds of fatalities happening within the working-age population of 18 to 59 years.
There is a clear gender discrepancy, as males are three times more likely to die in road crashes compared to their female counterparts.
Creating a safe transport system that accommodates human error and vulnerabilities is crucial. The safe system approach emphasizes safe roads and roadsides, appropriate speeds, secure vehicles, and responsible road users to prevent fatal crashes and minimize severe injuries.
Various distractions, such as mobile phone usage, contribute to impaired driving, underscoring the importance of an attentive and focused mindset behind the wheel.
Designing roads with all users in mind, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, can significantly enhance safety. Implementing features like footpaths, cycling lanes, and traffic calming measures are essential to reducing the risk of injuries among vulnerable road users.
Ensuring vehicle safety standards, like those proposed by UN regulations, is critical in preventing crashes and preserving lives. Equipping vehicles with essential safety features such as airbags, seat belts, and electronic stability control can greatly mitigate the risks associated with road traffic incidents.
Timely post-crash care is imperative, as delays in providing assistance can exacerbate injuries and potentially lead to fatal outcomes. Accessible and high-quality prehospital and hospital care, coupled with specialized training, play a vital role in improving outcomes for crash victims.
Enforcement of traffic laws on various safety measures, from drink-driving to seat belt usage, is essential for reducing road traffic-related fatalities. Effective enforcement requires a multifaceted approach at national, municipal, and local levels, including the implementation of appropriate penalties.
Preventative measures can significantly reduce road traffic injuries with a comprehensive approach that involves collaboration among different sectors such as transportation, law enforcement, healthcare, and education. Strategies like safer road designs, enhanced vehicle safety, and robust law enforcement are pivotal in promoting road safety awareness and reducing incidents.
WHO leads global efforts to enhance road safety, advocating for impactful interventions, exchanging best practices, and promoting awareness on road safety issues. As the driving force behind the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, WHO strives to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by the end of the decade through collaborative initiatives and technical support to countries.
Through partnerships like the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety, WHO assists low- and middle-income countries in reducing road traffic casualties. Additionally, WHO chairs the UN Road Safety Collaboration, facilitating high-profile advocacy events, including UN road safety weeks and the annual World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
For further information, you can access related news [here](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiRmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndoby5pbnQvbmV3cy1yb29tL2ZhY3Qtc2hlZXRzL2RldGFpbC9yb2FkLXRyYWZmaWMtaW5qdXJpZXPSAQA?oc=5).