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The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released a report on the current status of road traffic safety globally.
- 1.25 million people die each year from road traffic crashes
- 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries
- Only 54% of the world vehicles are in these countries
- Countries in Africa have the highest death rates per capita
- Vulneable groups include:
- Motorcyclists (23% of global deaths)
- Pedestrians (22% of global deaths)
- Cyclists (4% of global deaths)
From a postive perspective, road traffic deaths are stabilzing even though the number of motor vehicles are rapidly increasing.
The bottom line- injuries are preventable. Continued policy efforts, laws with enforncement, can save lives. Specific life saving legislation includes:
- seat belt laws that apply to all occupants
- maximum speed, such as urban speed limits of 50 Km/h (31 mph)
- child restraint, based upon age, height or weight
- helmet laws that apply to all drivers, passengers and road types
- drink-driving laws with specific blood alcohol concentrations (e.g.: 0.05 g/dl or less)
References
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/road-safety-report/en/