Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023

Context:

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report titled-The Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, revealing critical findings and insights regarding road traffic fatalities and safety across the globe.

Relevance:

GS: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Key Highlights of the Road Traffic Deaths Report

Key Highlights of the Road Traffic Deaths Report

Global Trends (2010-2021):

• Worldwide road traffic deaths decreased by 5% between 2010 and 2021, totaling 1.19 million fatalities annually.
• 108 UN member nations reported a decline in road traffic deaths during this period.
• India, however, experienced a 15% increase in fatalities, rising from 1.34 lakh in 2010 to 1.54 lakh in 2021.

Countries Achieving Significant Reductions:

• Ten countries, including Belarus, Denmark, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, successfully reduced road traffic deaths by over 50%.
• An additional 35 countries made notable progress, achieving a reduction of 30% to 50%.

Regional Distribution of Deaths:

• WHO South-East Asia Region witnessed 28% of global road traffic deaths, followed by the Western Pacific Region (25%) and the African Region (19%).
• Low- and middle-income countries, constituting 90% of global deaths, possess only 1% of the world’s motor vehicles.

Vulnerable Road Users:

• 53% of all road traffic fatalities comprise vulnerable road users, including pedestrians (23%), riders of two- and three-wheelers (21%), cyclists (6%), and users of micro-mobility devices (3%).
• Pedestrian deaths increased by 3% to 274,000, while cyclist deaths rose by nearly 20% to 71,000 (2010-2021).

Legislation and Best Practices:

• Only six countries adhere to WHO best practices for all risk factors (speeding, drink–driving, helmet use, seatbelts, and child restraints).
• 140 countries, comprising two-thirds of UN Member States, have such laws for at least one risk factor.
• Limited countries have legislation covering key vehicle safety features and require safety inspections for road users.

Global Motor-Vehicle Fleet Growth:

• Expected to double by 2030, emphasizing the urgency for robust safety regulations and infrastructure improvements.

UN Decade of Action 2021–2030:

• The report establishes a baseline for achieving the United Nations Decade of Action 2021–2030 target to halve road traffic deaths by 2030.

-Source: The Hindu