According to the latest data from the 1102 International Transport Forum, there has been a steep decline in road deaths during first decade of 21st century in 33 countries.
Spain, Portugal and France top the list for the most effective reduction in road fatalities.
Meanwhile the US recorded its lowest death toll on the roads for more than sixty years in 2009. Although motorcycle fatalities fell, this was less than for overall road deaths while some countries registered dramatic increases of 100% and more over 2000-2009 period. The number of road fatalities fell in 30 of the 33 countries analysed by the ITF’s International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (3444 IRTAD).
In many countries, the average annual drop in road deaths was dramatically higher than in previous decades during the 2000-2009 period. Spain registered an average annual drop of 8.5%, as compared to 4.4 % in the 1990s and an actual increase of fatalities in the 1980s. The UK saw an annual reduction of 4.6% in the past decade, compared to 1.3% in the 1980s. In the United States, road fatalities fell by an annual average of 2.3% between 2000 and 2009. In the 1990s, they had dropped by a mere 0.6%/year. and by 1.3% in the 1980s.
“In comparison to preceding decades, we have made a significant leap in the reduction of deadly road incidents during the first decade of the 21st Century”, said IRTAD chairman Fred Wegman, who pointed out that, “…trends are much more worrying in many developing countries”.
The largest drop in traffic-related deaths occurred in Portugal (-55%) and Spain (-53%), where the number of road fatalities fell by more than half. France achieved a reduction of 47%. The US registered a drop of -19%; the UK of over a third (-35%).
Three countries show an increase over the past 10 years: Argentina, Cambodia, Malaysia. These three countries have only recently joined IRTAD and hope to benefit from the expertise of the group in designing road safety measures.
In 2009, some countries reached the lowest number of road deaths since systematic records began – among them the United States and Switzerland. Denmark had the lowest number of fatalities since 1932, Canada for almost 60 years. Weighted by road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the UK (3.8) did best in 2009, followed by Sweden and the Netherlands (both 3.9) and Israel (4.2). The highest traffic death rates according to this measure were recorded in Malaysia (23.8),Argentina (18.4) and Greece (13.8 - 2008 data).
Measured as road fatalities/billion kilometres driven, the risk of dying in a road accident is smallest in Sweden (5.1), the UK (5.2) and Switzerland (5.6). At the other end of the spectrum, Korea recorded 20.1 deaths/billion kilometres, the Czech Republic 19.4 and Malaysia 17.7. However, not all countries systematically collect data on vehicle kilometres.
Despite the marked reduction in the number of overall road fatalities, the 2000-2009 decade saw a significant rise of deaths associated with motorcycles in many countries. Motorcycle deaths increased in 13 of 29 countries covered by IRTAD. While some countries recorded substantial advances in the past decade (led by Portugal with -45% and Korea with -39%), others saw dramatic increases, such as Finland (+170%) or Slovenia (+100%).
“This increase is only partly explained by the rise in the number of motorcycles”, said Véronique Feypell-de La Beaumelle, road safety expert at the International Transport Forum. “In the UK, for instance, motorcycle accidents were down 23%, despite a 45% increase in the number of motorcycles on the road.”
The International Transport Forum has set up a Motorcycle Safety Working Group to assess motorcycling mobility and safety issues of motorcyclists.
While high income countries are looking back on a record decade in reducing road fatalities, 90% of global road deaths occur in low and middle income countries (estimates put annual global road fatalities at least 1.3 million, with 50 million injuries).
The3262 United Nations have thus declared 2011 to 2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety, with the aim of stabilising and then reducing global road deaths by 2020.
“Reducing fatalities around the world will be accelerated by rapid and effective transfer of knowledge, good practice and information from the best performing countries”, said Jack Short: “The IRTAD data base and network is one way for countries to share experiences and innovations, and we want to continue to strengthen its role.
Spain, Portugal and France top the list for the most effective reduction in road fatalities.
Meanwhile the US recorded its lowest death toll on the roads for more than sixty years in 2009. Although motorcycle fatalities fell, this was less than for overall road deaths while some countries registered dramatic increases of 100% and more over 2000-2009 period. The number of road fatalities fell in 30 of the 33 countries analysed by the ITF’s International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (
In many countries, the average annual drop in road deaths was dramatically higher than in previous decades during the 2000-2009 period. Spain registered an average annual drop of 8.5%, as compared to 4.4 % in the 1990s and an actual increase of fatalities in the 1980s. The UK saw an annual reduction of 4.6% in the past decade, compared to 1.3% in the 1980s. In the United States, road fatalities fell by an annual average of 2.3% between 2000 and 2009. In the 1990s, they had dropped by a mere 0.6%/year. and by 1.3% in the 1980s.
“In comparison to preceding decades, we have made a significant leap in the reduction of deadly road incidents during the first decade of the 21st Century”, said IRTAD chairman Fred Wegman, who pointed out that, “…trends are much more worrying in many developing countries”.
The largest drop in traffic-related deaths occurred in Portugal (-55%) and Spain (-53%), where the number of road fatalities fell by more than half. France achieved a reduction of 47%. The US registered a drop of -19%; the UK of over a third (-35%).
Three countries show an increase over the past 10 years: Argentina, Cambodia, Malaysia. These three countries have only recently joined IRTAD and hope to benefit from the expertise of the group in designing road safety measures.
In 2009, some countries reached the lowest number of road deaths since systematic records began – among them the United States and Switzerland. Denmark had the lowest number of fatalities since 1932, Canada for almost 60 years. Weighted by road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the UK (3.8) did best in 2009, followed by Sweden and the Netherlands (both 3.9) and Israel (4.2). The highest traffic death rates according to this measure were recorded in Malaysia (23.8),Argentina (18.4) and Greece (13.8 - 2008 data).
Measured as road fatalities/billion kilometres driven, the risk of dying in a road accident is smallest in Sweden (5.1), the UK (5.2) and Switzerland (5.6). At the other end of the spectrum, Korea recorded 20.1 deaths/billion kilometres, the Czech Republic 19.4 and Malaysia 17.7. However, not all countries systematically collect data on vehicle kilometres.
Despite the marked reduction in the number of overall road fatalities, the 2000-2009 decade saw a significant rise of deaths associated with motorcycles in many countries. Motorcycle deaths increased in 13 of 29 countries covered by IRTAD. While some countries recorded substantial advances in the past decade (led by Portugal with -45% and Korea with -39%), others saw dramatic increases, such as Finland (+170%) or Slovenia (+100%).
“This increase is only partly explained by the rise in the number of motorcycles”, said Véronique Feypell-de La Beaumelle, road safety expert at the International Transport Forum. “In the UK, for instance, motorcycle accidents were down 23%, despite a 45% increase in the number of motorcycles on the road.”
The International Transport Forum has set up a Motorcycle Safety Working Group to assess motorcycling mobility and safety issues of motorcyclists.
While high income countries are looking back on a record decade in reducing road fatalities, 90% of global road deaths occur in low and middle income countries (estimates put annual global road fatalities at least 1.3 million, with 50 million injuries).
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“Reducing fatalities around the world will be accelerated by rapid and effective transfer of knowledge, good practice and information from the best performing countries”, said Jack Short: “The IRTAD data base and network is one way for countries to share experiences and innovations, and we want to continue to strengthen its role.
