Global Status Report on Road Safety: Time for Action

TLDR

This report evaluates the status of highway safety in 178 countries around the world. The report finds that over 90 % of highway fatalities occur in low‑ and middle‑income countries, nearly half involve cyclists, pedestrians, or two‑wheelers, many nations lack comprehensive traffic laws and enforcement, and accident data are underreported and of poor quality.

Abstract

This report evaluates the status of highway safety in 178 countries around the world. Some of the findings include the following: (1) Over 90% of the highway traffic accident fatalities in the world occur in low-income and middle-income countries, where 48% of the registered vehicles in the world are located. (2) Almost half of highway deaths are cyclists, pedestrians, or riders of motorized two-wheelers. (3) Many countries have inadequate traffic laws and law enforcement. They often do not have laws addressing drinking drivers, helmet use, seat belt use, child restraint use, or speeding. (4) Traffic accidents are underreported, and accident data quality is poor.