Cyclists deaths have increased by 70 per cent in a decade; just 25 per cent of countries have laws in place to support public transportation, cycling, and walking
A road accident in New Delhi in 2019. Photo: iStock
The number of road traffic deaths decreased by five per cent to 1.19 million per year between 2010 and 2021. But they continue to be a major global health concern, posing an immediate and growing danger of mortality to cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The number of pedestrian deaths increased by three per cent to 274,000, or 23 per cent of all fatalities worldwide. Bicyclist deaths increased by over 20 per cent to 71,000, constituting almost six per cent of all deaths worldwide. So, every third person who dies on the road is either a pedestrian or a cyclist, according to the WHO report.
Globally, more than eight cyclists deaths occur per hour or over 194 per day. At least 31 pedestrians are killed every hour or 750 per day.
This shows that efforts to improve road safety are working but fall far short of what is needed to meet the target of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 to halve deaths by 2030.
According to the report, over half of the road traffic fatalities are vulnerable road users. They include:
- Pedestrians (23 per cent)
- Riders of two- and three-wheelers such as motorcycles (21 per cent)
- Cyclists (six per cent)
- Users of micro-mobility devices such as e-scooters (three per cent).
Deaths among car and other 4-wheeled light vehicle occupants fell slightly, to 30 per cent of global fatalities.
Poor state of regulations
The report revealed that the world is not serious enough about ensuring safety on roads. It shows a lack of progress in advancing laws and safety standards.
Just 0.2 per cent of global roadways have cycle lanes and 80 per cent of them do not fulfill pedestrian safety regulations. This puts users of such roads in grave danger.
Only around 25 per cent of countries have laws in place to support public transportation, cycling, and walking, flagged the report, Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023.
“The carnage on our roads is preventable. We call on all countries to put people rather than cars at the centre of their transport systems, and ensuring the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general in a statement.
The WHO report also pointed that road accidents are the 12th leading cause of death when all ages are considered. Two-thirds of deaths occur among people of working age (18-59 years), causing huge health, social and economic harm throughout society. Road accidents have been the leading killer of children and youth aged 5 to 29 years, said the report.
The report provided the first complete overview of progress made during the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. It also set a baseline of data for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, the WHO stated in the document.
“As we work towards meeting the goal of halving road crash deaths by 2030, we need a paradigm shift in leadership, commitment, investment, and action from governments everywhere, and including everyone in society, from road users to those who design and build our infrastructure,” said Jean Todt, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety in his statement.
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