According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 1.35 million people die in road accidents worldwide annually, making it the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5 to 29. The United Nations General Assembly aims to halve this number by 2030. More than half of these fatalities involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
While road safety is a global concern, certain regions face a higher likelihood of road deaths, with up to 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries. This disparity is attributed, in part, to the rapid motorization in developing nations, outpacing road safety management and regulations.
Analyzing data from 183 countries, the Dominican Republic emerges as the nation with the highest per capita road deaths, recording 64.6 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019. Zimbabwe (41 deaths per 100,000) and Venezuela (39 deaths per 100,000) follow closely. Notably, Africa has the highest death rates globally, with 15 of the top 20 countries for road fatalities situated on the continent.
In contrast, the United States ranks 110th globally, with approximately 13 road accident deaths per 100,000 population in 2019. The U.S. faces specific challenges, such as a relatively high rate of alcohol-related road fatalities, standing at 31% in 2016, compared to Germany’s 9%. This places the U.S. at a disadvantage compared to many European countries, known for their lower death rates in road accidents.
