TEN REASONS TO ACT ON ROAD DEATHS
- Nearly 1.3 million people are killed on the world’s roads each year.
- Up to 50 million people are injured, and many remain disabled for life.
- 90% of casualties from road deaths occur in developing countries.
- Annual road traffic deaths are forecast to rise to 1.9 million people by 2020.
- Road traffic injuries are the number one cause of death for young people worldwide.
- By 2015 road traffic injuries will be the leading health burden for children over the age of five years in developing countries.
- The economic cost to developing countries is at least $100 billion a year.
- Road traffic injuries place an immense burden on hospitals and health systems generally.
- Road crashes are preventable.
- A global Action Plan includes practical measures which, if implemented, could save millions of lives.
(UN Decade of Action for Road Safety)