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

  • TISPOL 2017: Europe’s road safety record suffers as austerity bites hard
    December 21, 2017
    Police budgets are being slashed, staff numbers are falling and Europe’s long-term trend towards ever-fewer road deaths has ground to a halt. Does Europe’s road network face a far more dangerous future? Geoff Hadwick reports from TISPOL 2017 in Manchester, UK. Europe’s road safety record is under threat. Lower and lower funding levels have become a very serious, and very worrying, problem for the EU’s traffic police bosses. They know that they must find new ways to focus road users on changing their beha
  • Road safety improvement from 1960-2009
    November 11, 2013
    A study carried out by a researcher in the University of Nottingham reveals improving safety on British roads. The study focussed on data from England and Wales and shows that fatality levels in 2009 were 41% lower than in 1960. The study highlighted several key factors as having improved safety and reduced the death toll including the mandatory use of child seats and seat belts and car design changes, as well as specialist trauma centres and more rigid enforcement of drink-drive laws and speed limits. One
  • Concern at high rate of crashes in Asia
    July 5, 2017
    There is concern at the high rate of road crashes across Asia. An increase in vehicle ownership has seen congestion grow in many Asian cities.
  • ERF sets out sign inspection guidelines
    December 27, 2024
    The European Union Road Federation suggests that its checklist - downloadable for free - is included in any existing tools for road safety inspection and audits that road agencies may have.