Skip to main content

UN report shows world road deaths level out

The global status report on road safety 2015 published by the United Nations (UN) shows that the number of world road deaths has levelled out at 1.25 million/year. This report is based on data from 180 countries. The report also shows that the highest road traffic fatality rate are in low-income countries. In the last three years, 17 countries have aligned at least one of their laws with best practice on seat-belts, drink–driving, speed, motorcycle helmets or child restraints. While there has been progress
October 19, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The global status report on road safety 2015 published by the United Nations (UN) shows that the number of world road deaths has levelled out at 1.25 million/year. This report is based on data from 180 countries. The report also shows that the highest road traffic fatality rate are in low-income countries. In the last three years, 17 countries have aligned at least one of their laws with best practice on seat-belts, drink–driving, speed, motorcycle helmets or child restraints. While there has been progress towards improving road safety legislation and in making vehicles safer, the report shows that the pace of change is too slow. Urgent action is needed to achieve the ambitious target for road safety reflected in the newly adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: halving the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2020. Made possible through funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, this report is the third in the series, and provides a snapshot of the road safety situation globally, highlighting the gaps and the measures needed to best drive progress.

The report also shows that of the 10 countries with the largest populations in the world have enacted all five of the necessary steps to address road safety.

Related Content

  • IRF Geneva highlights making roads safe: a priority for all
    May 15, 2014
    IRF Geneva’s Susanna Zammataro highlights the importance of the Federation’s ongoing commitment to the work of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, with which she serves as co-chair of the project group dedicated to Safer Roads and Mobility On 10th April, the United Nations General Assembly was due to discuss a new global road safety resolution. For those who might dismiss this as just another piece of paper condemned to sit on government shelves and gather dust, this a reminder of a few facts
  • Cutting road deaths around the world
    February 27, 2020
    A new funding source will help cut road deaths around the world.
  • The drive for safer roads around the world
    October 1, 2019
    The world’s roads are dangerous places. Around 1.35 million/year are killed in road crashes, according to data collated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Just 28 countries are rated as having adequate laws covering the five biggest risk factors in crashes according to WHO: speed; DUI; helmets; seat belts; child restraints. Europe has the world’s safest roads, with the lowest level of road casualties/year. Around 9.2 people/100,000 of population are killed on Europe’s roads/year on average. Africa m
  • UN sets global target for road safety
    October 21, 2015
    The UN has set a global benchmark for reducing traffic fatalities on the world’s road network. Data shows that every year, almost 1.3 million people are killed in road crashes around the globe, according to information gathered by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In a bid to tackle this major problem, world leaders recently vowed to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020. This target was agreed at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York.