Motor vehicle collisions kill 1.25 million people worldwide each year. In fact, car crashes have displaced deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS to make it to the top 10 causes of death globally. Here are some eye-popping facts about road safety around the world.
Three-Fourths of Car Crash Victims are Men
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), men are twice as likely to be killed behind the wheel compared to women. Males under the age of 25 are three times more likely to die in a car crash than young females. This gender gap can be explained by several factors:
- Men are more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol
- Men are more aggressive drivers and tend to be involved in more severe collisions
- On average, men spend more time behind the wheel than women
Car Crashes Cost the United States Nearly $900 Billion Each Year
The NHTSA estimates the cost of car crashes at nearly $900 billion a year in the United States alone. In addition to the $300 billion in direct economic costs, an additional $600 billion is on account of indirect harm to society due to lost earnings, disability, decreased quality of life, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and legal costs. This translates to $900 for each living American.
The Top Three Causes of Motor Vehicle Collisions Worldwide are Speeding, Drunk Driving, and Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is among the top causes of car crashes around the world. Texting, talking, eating, grooming, and reading behind the wheel become larger threats every year with the introduction of newer gadgets. Drunk driving and speeding continue to be other leading causes of road fatalities. Experts say that 4 simple safety precautions can drastically bring down the number of lives lost on roads. It is noteworthy that according to the World Health Organization:
- Seat belt use reduces the risk of front-seat fatality by 25-75%
- The risk of a motor vehicle crash increases considerably at blood alcohol levels more than 0.04 g/dL
- Drivers using mobile phones, including hands-free sets, have a four times higher chance of being involved in a car crash
- The risk of pedestrian fatality climbs from 20 percent at 50 km/hour to 60 percent at 80 km/hour
Ninety Percent of Road Fatalities Occur in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
The vast majority of road fatalities take place in low- and middle-income countries even though the number of registered vehicles is far less in these regions of the world. This can be explained by:
- Large numbers of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists
- Lack of implementation of road safety laws
- Poor transportation infrastructure (such as missing traffic signals)
- Accelerating car sales
Car Crashes Claimed Less Than 300 Lives in Sweden in 2013
In contrast to India and China which have the maximum number of recorded road deaths each year (roughly 100,000 lives are claimed on the roads of each country per year), Sweden has drastically reduced the number of people killed in car crashes to less than 300 in 2013. In the past four decades, the number of road deaths in Sweden has fallen by 80 percent even as the number of cars and mileage has increased dramatically. Sweden’s record of 3 deaths per 100,000 is more impressive than America (11.4 deaths per 100,000) and the European Union (5.5 deaths per 100,000). This is the result of:
- Vision Zero – a comprehensive plan to eliminate road fatalities
- Prioritizing safety over speed
- 2+1 roads with alternate use of the middle lane for overtaking
- Pedestrian zones with barriers
- Safer crossings with pedestrian bridges
- Strict policing
The automotive industry is working on innovative technologies to bring down the number of lives claimed by car crashes. In the meantime, safe driving habits are the only way to keep yourself, your family, and other road users alive.
