The road insecurity worldwide

Being a real scourge, road traffic accidents are behind more and more human and material losses worldwide, yet with inequalities as regards the distribution of damages.

Image provided to Microsoft by Fotolia. Used with permission from MicrosoftWhile high-income countries managed to reduce the rate of road mortality thanks to intensive preventive programs and restrictive measures, the rest of the world is still lagging behind, strained by the increase of road traffic accidents and the high loss experience.

According to the late WHO's report 'Global status report on road safety', published in June 2009 and which relies on a survey conducted in 2008 in 178 countries, the poor countries are the hardest-hit by this epidemic. More than 90% of deaths caused by road traffic accidents occur in low or medium-income countries. These countries, however, account for just 47.9% of the car fleet worldwide.

By the year 2030, in the absence of new road safety policies, road traffic accidents are poised to climb from the ninth to the fifth cause of worldwide mortality, with 2.4 million killed per year.

Road traffic accidents throughout the world mean

  • 1.3 million people killed per year
  • 50 million people injured per year
  • 518 billion USD of losses per year
  • 46% of those killed are pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists
  • 44% of the countries have no plan designed for public transport
  • The ninth cause of mortality in the world and the second in Africa after malaria
  • The main cause of death for the 10-24 age group

Breakdown of deaths, of the car fleet and the world population
 Low or medium
income countries
High
income countries
Deaths per road traffic accident
91,5%8.5%
Deaths among vulnerable road users*
80%20%
World car fleet
47.9%52.1%
World population
84.4%15.6%
* Pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists.

Roads are safer in the developed countries

Used with permission from MicrosoftBy making the struggle against road insecurity a priority, the rich and industrialized countries have managed to reduce the number of victims and obtain encouraging results. They report only 8.5% of cases of death worldwide while accounting for more than half the world's car fleet (52.1%). The mortality rate is below ten people for 100 000 inhabitants, that is, twice or three times less than the one reported in most African countries.

The decrease of road traffic accidents in the developed countries is accounted for by:

  • the technological breakthroughs: vehicles are outfitted with more and more efficient safety gear
  • the modernization of the car fleet, the risk of being killed or wounded is reduced fourfold with a new car
  • the efficiency of prehospital care and the promptness of rescue services
  • the enforcement of repressive measures against offenders
  • the improvement of the road infrastructure with the installation of rotary intersections

The French case

Taking the example of France, the latter managed between 2001 and 2008 to reduce by half the number of people killed on the roads. In 2009, it reported a decrease of 8% of its bodily injury accidents (68 512 accidents in 2009 versus 74 487 in 2008), and a slight reduction of mortality (4262 deaths in 2009 versus 4275 in 2008). Its mortality rate for 100 000 inhabitants has, nonetheless, remained high (7.5), in comparison with its European neighbors: Sweden (5.2), Switzerland (4.9).
This rate remains, nevertheless, better than that reported in a number of industrialized countries, like Russia which, with 35 000 deaths per year, maintains a high rate (25.2), or the United States which report 42 642 fatalities and a ratio of 13.9 per 100 000 inhabitants. The United States have reduced by 27% the number of road traffic victims in the recent years.
Population, cars, deaths and mortality rates per road traffic accident in some high income countries in 2007
 PopulationNumber
of cars
Reported number
of deaths1
Modelled number of deaths2Mortality rate3
Germany
82 599 47155 511 3744 9494 9496
Australia
20 743 17914 774 9211 6161 6167.8
Belgium
10 457 3436 362 1611 0671 06710.2
Canada
32 876 04720 065 0002 8892 8898.8
Spain
44 279 18031 441 1524 1044 1049.3
United States
305 826 246251 422 50942 64242 64213.9
Finland
5 276 8924 656 3703803807.2
France
61 647 37539 926 000462046207.5
Italy
58 876 83443 262 9925 6695 6699.6
Japan
127 966 70991 378 6366 6396 6395
The Netherlands
16 418 8248 862 9357917914.8
United Kingdom
60 768 94634 327 520329832985.4
Russia
142 498 53238 695 99635 97235 97225.2
Switzerland
7 483 9735 356 0003703704.9
1 Data reported by the countries themselves 2 Data modelled according to an assessment of the WHO (data of the countries having a reliable registration system of civil status facts have not been modelled) 3 Mortality rate per 100 000 inhabitants Source: Global status report on road safety. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009

Decrease in the number of accidents and increase of indemnifications

Used with permission from MicrosoftToday, a number of industrialized countries have, indeed, managed to reduce the rates of the road accidents rates. Yet, they are still faced with more costly claims and higher expenses (vehicle repair costs, health care and victims' indemnification). In France, between 1999 and 2007, the number of claims having cost more than 3 million EUR (4.1 million USD) more than doubled (118 claims in 2007 versus 58 in 1999). Accidents whose costs have exceeded 8 million EUR (10.9 million USD) reached the number of 13 while in 1999 no such cases were reported.

Because of the increase in the victims' indemnifications, the rise of losses in 2009 and the decline of the insurers' capacities, motor insurance tariffs have increased in 2010, especially in Europe. France has raised its motor tariffs by 3% in average.

Road insecurity, the scourge of poor countries

For some years now, low or medium-income countries are reporting a considerable increase of road insecurity due to the non-availability or to the inefficiency of preventive measures. As a result, they sustain important economic losses which slow down their development. For the poorest countries, the situation is even worse : surveys show that these countries, alone, account for 42% of the worldwide mortality while their car fleet represents no more than 9.2%. Moreover, this scourge costs them up to 5% of their GDP.

According to the World Bank, the economic losses triggered by the road traffic accidents range between 65 billion USD and 100 billion USD per year in southern countries, that is, more than half the total amount of the aid to development. These expenses weigh down an already fragile health care system, increase the misery of households and worsen poverty.

The increase of the road insecurity in the developing countries is accounted for by:

  • the rapid increase of the car fleet and that of the two-wheelers. In Africa, vehicles are old and in awful state due to the lack of maintenance and technical control.
  • the absence of urban plans and decent infrastructure: such as the non-availability of sidewalks or bicycle lanes.
  • the insufficient resources required for the enforcement of the road safety measures.
  • the non-compliance with the regulatory frameworks: the traffic rules.
  • the undisciplined road users: non-respect of the safety principles such as the wearing of the helmet or of the safety belt.
  • the deficient rescue and the defaulting coverage of the seriously injured people.

In Africa

Photo credit: Ji-Elle In most African countries, the rate of road traffic accidents exceeds 30 for 100 000 inhabitants. Every 60 minutes, 22 people perish in a road crash, that is, 200 000 per year, according to the WHO estimates.

The Economic Commission for Africa within the United Nations has ranked the road traffic accidents on the African continent as the second cause of mortality behind malaria, for the age group comprised between 15 and 44. This scourge triggers 10 billion USD of economic losses, that is, 2% of their GDP.

In 2009, a country like Nigeria, where the world's deadliest roads are found, 4620 deaths and 12 000 damaged vehicles have been reported. According to the Federal Agency of Road Safety in Nigeria, roads kill an average 400 people per month in this country.

Population, vehicles, deaths and mortality rates per road traffic accidents in some African countries in 2007
 IncomePopulationNumber
of cars
Reported number
of deaths1
Modelled number
of deaths3
Mortality
rate3
South Africa
Medium48 576 7639 237 57416 11316 11333.2
Angola
Medium17 024 084671 0602 3586 42537.7
Benin
Low9 032 787222 850653281531.2
Cameroon
Medium18 549 176312 25910695 20628.1
Egypt
Medium75 497 9134 300 00015 98331 43941.6
Eritrea
Low4 850 76360 849812 35048.4
Ghana
Low23 478 3949316421 8566 94229.6
Kenya
Low37 537 7161 004 243376012 91834.4
Mali
Low12 336 799167 2457113 95932.1
Niger
Low14 225 52176 0615705 35737.7
Nigeria
Low148 092 5427600 000453247 86532.3
Central African Rep.
Low4 342 7355 8345651 39932.2
Senegal
Low12 378 532280 5943454 02332.5
Sudan
Medium38 560 4881 200 0002 22713 36234.7
Zimbabwe
Low13 349 4341 556 5861 3483 66927.5
1 Data reported by the countries themselves 2 Data modelled according to an assessment of the WHO 3 Mortality rate per 100 000 inhabitants Source: Global status report on road safety. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009

In the Maghreb and the Arab countries

At the top of the list of the Maghreb and the Arab countries comes Algeria, which also holds the fourth world ranking in terms of road insecurity.

For an ever-growing car fleet (5.5 million vehicles in 2009 versus 2.9 million in 2000), Algeria reported in 2009, 60 000 wounded people and 4 300 deaths. This massive killer, which claims everyday the lives of 12 people and injures another 178, has become the first cause of mortality in Algeria. According to the Command of National Police, It costs more than 100 billion DZD (1.4 billion USD) per year to the public treasury.

For the other Maghreb countries, the situation is not any better.

In Morocco the provisional 2009 toll revealed 69 348 claims (an increase of 18.7% in comparison with the average of the five recent 2004/2008), claiming the lives of approximately 4 000 people (+6.45% in comparison with the same period).

For the entire Arab countries, 40 000 deaths, 250 000 injuries and 60 billion USD of losses have been reported. The Gulf countries are reporting a very high mortality rate despite the modern road infrastructure.

In Saudi Arabia, for instance, 6 000 deaths are reported every year, that is, an average of 29 deaths for 100 000 inhabitants.

Population, cars, deaths and mortality rates per road traffic accidents in some Maghreb and Arab countries in 2007
 IncomePopulationNumber of carsReported number
of deaths1
Modelled number
of deaths2
Mortality rate3
Maghreb countries*
Libya
Medium6 160 4831 826 5332 1382 49740.5
Morocco
Medium31 224 1372 284 0603 8388 85028.3
Mauritania
Low3 123 813350 0002621 10935.5
Arab countries
Saudi Arabia
High24 734 5337 398 6006 3587 16629
Bahrain
High752 648382 977919112.1
U.A.E
High4 380 4391 7554 4201 0561 62637.1
Jordan
Medium5 924 245841 9339922 02734.2
Kuwait
High2 851 1441 364 79048248216.9
Lebanon
Medium4 099 1151400 0005361 17028.5
Oman
Medium2 595 133629 67079855321.3
Qatar
High840 635605 69919919923.7
Syria
Medium19 928 5161 389 3463 6636 55232.9
Yemen
Low22 389 169777 7343 0036 55329.3
1 Data reported by the countries themselves 2 Data modelled according to an assessment of the WHO 3 Mortality rate per 100 000 inhabitants * Algeria did not participate in the WHO's survey Source: Global status report on road safety. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009

In Asia

Photo credit: Mia Bruksman The Asian region (South-East Asia and Western Pacific) account for more than half the deaths worldwide, that is, about 700 000 killed per year, according to the WHO report. Most of the victims belong to the vulnerable category of road users: pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheelers motorcyclists as well as their passengers. In 2007, more than half the deaths caused by the road traffic accidents occurred in China and in India where two million Indians suffering from road accident-related handicaps are reported.

Well below that of Africa, the mortality rate in Asia has reached 20 deaths for 100 000 inhabitants and exceeds, nevertheless, the 60 deaths/100 000 for the two-wheelers motorcyclists (61 in Indonesia, 62 in Cambodia and 69.7 in Thailand).

Population, cars, deaths and mortality rates per road traffic accidents in some Asian countries in 2007
 IncomePopulationNumber
of cars
Reported number
of deaths1
Modelled number of deaths2Mortality rate3
Cambodia
Low14 443 679154 3891 6681 74912.1
China
Medium1 336 317 116145 288 99496 611220 78316.1
India
Low1 169 015 50972 718 000105 725196 44516.8
Indonesia
Medium231 626 97863 318 52216 54837 43816.2
Malaisia
Medium26 571 87916 825 1506 2826 28223.6
Philippines
Medium87 960 1175 515 5761 18517 55720
Thailand
Medium63 882 66225 618 44712 49212 49219.6
1 Data reported by the countries themselves 2 Data modelled according to an assessment of the WHO 3 Mortality rate per 100 000 inhabitants Source: Global status report on road safety. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009.
The poorest countries, alone, account for 42% of the worldwide mortality while their car fleet represents no more than 9.2%. Moreover, this scourge costs them up to 5% of their GDP.
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