Global road safety factfile

  • Worldwide, the number of people killed in road traffic crashes each year is estimated to be almost 1.2 million. That’s 3000 people killed on the world’s roads every day
  • The number injured in road traffic accidents is estimated to be as high as 50 million – the combined population of five of the world’s large cities
  • According to World Health Organisation data, deaths from road traffic injuries account for around 25% of all deaths from injury
  • It is expected that, without efforts and new initiatives to tackle the causes of road traffic injuries and deaths, they will rise by some 65% between 2000 and 2020
  • Over 50% of deaths are among young adults in the age range of 15-44 years. For men aged 15-44 road traffic injuries rank second (behind HIV/AIDS) as the leading cause of premature death and ill health worldwide
  • Among both children aged 5-14 years and young people aged 15-29 years, road traffic injuries are the second-leading cause of death worldwide
  • More than 80% of those killed in road traffic crashes live in middle and low income countries
  • Road traffic deaths are predicted to rise on average by more than 80% in low and middle income countries by 2020
  • According to World Bank forecasts, South East Asia will see a 144% increase in road deaths by 2020, from a base date of 2000. If no significant remedial action is taken, India’s death rate is not expected to begin to decline until 2042. Sub Saharan Africa is forecast to experience at least 80% more road deaths in 2020 than in 2000. The Middle East and North Africa are forecast to see a 68% increase in road deaths over the same period 2000-2020
  • Overall, road deaths are predicated to rise above 2 million a year by 2020, and to move from the 10th to 3rd cause of premature death and disability
  • The World Bank recently estimated that developing countries lose approximately US$100 billion every year due to road crashes. This figure is twice the amount of all development aid provided by donors to developing countries
  • Africa bears a huge economic burden from road traffic crashes. Despite having very low levels of motorisation, 10% of global road fatalities occur in Africa and are conservatively estimated to cost the continent approximately US$3.7 billion a year
  • Road crashes are estimated to cost most African countries between 0.8 and 5% of their GNP. Furthermore, according to projections by the WHO the economic cost of road crashes in Africa is expected to increase by 80% over the next seven years

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