Every year, 1.35 million people die in road accidents worldwide, making traffic accidents the most common cause of death for children and young people between the ages of five and 29 years. In addition, the number of road deaths has risen by about 100,000 in just three years.

This is the result of a World Health Organization (WHO) report based on 2016 data. In the previous report, based on data from 2013, the number of road deaths had been estimated at 1.25 million per year.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists particularly at risk

"These deaths are an unacceptable price for mobility," said WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Particularly vulnerable are pedestrians and cyclists, it says in the report. These are the main findings of the WHO study:

  • Traffic accidents are eighth among the leading causes of death worldwide, even before HIV / AIDS or diarrhea
  • For people aged five to 29 years, a traffic accident is the leading cause of death
  • The death rate has fallen only minimally since 2000, from 18.8 deaths per 100,000 people to 18.2
  • Only 109 of the 175 countries surveyed have a nationwide emergency number that can be used to request help
  • 3,700 people die worldwide every day as a result of traffic accidents

Despite the increase in road deaths, the rate has stabilized in recent years compared to the increasing number of people and cars worldwide, it said. This suggests that security measures in richer countries mitigated the situation. However, the risk of fatal road accidents in poor countries is still three times as high as in wealthy countries.

Safe roads for pedestrians and cyclists make an important contribution

Above all speed limits, regulations against alcohol at the wheel, belt and helm duties would have made important contributions to more security. Safer infrastructure such as sidewalks and designated bike lanes, as well as stricter technical monitoring of vehicles, also contribute to this, the report said. In these areas, many countries have improved, but poorer countries are also far behind in this field.

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Especially on the African continent, the death toll is high, writes the WHO. With 26.6 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year, the rate is significantly higher than in Europe at 9.3, where at the same time the fewest fatalities worldwide are recorded.