Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists most likely to be killed on world's roads, WHO reports

Nearly half of the estimated 1.23 million people killed in road traffic crashes are pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. That’s one of the findings in a new study,  Global status report on road safety, published by WHO. While progress has been made towards protecting drivers and passengers in automobiles, other road users – pedestrians and motorcyclists and bicyclists – remain vulnerable to injury and death.

The Global status report is the first worldwide assessment of how well countries are implementing road safety measures like enforcing speed limits, reducing drink-driving, and increasing the use of seatbelts, child restraints and motorcycle helmets. The report is based on a survey conducted in 178 countries, accounting for over 98% of the world’s population.

In spite of progress being made, road traffic injuries remain a global public health problem, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, which account for over 90% of global road traffic fatalities. Few countries have comprehensive road safety laws that are well enforced, and few countries have reliable data on road traffic injuries.

The report notes that while motorcycle helmet laws exist in more than 90% of countries, only 40% have a helmet wearing laws that cover both riders and passengers and specifies that a motorcycle helmet must meet a specified safety standard.

The report contains a global overview of the results, one-page country-by-country profiles, and a statistical annex with the key statistics for each country.

For a full copy of the report, click here.

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