The Word Health Organization has come out with its 2009 Global Status Report On Road Safety (PDF), which reveals that traffic-related injury is the leading cause of death for 15-29 year olds the world over. Road traffic is the second leading cause of death for 5-14 year olds, and the third leading cause for 30-44 year olds. After age 45, it drops to the 8th most common cause of death thanks to an increase in driving ability and other death risks. The study also finds that though high-income nations have far more vehicle registrations per capita than low- and middle-income nations their road traffic death rate is disproportionately low. Even more interesting is the lack of relationship between higher income levels and a higher proportion of non-driver (or so-called “vulnerable road users”) deaths. One might assume that more cars and more safety equipment keeps high-income-nation drivers safer than pedestrians, but it just isn’t so.
The WHO study concludes that each five percent increase in average speed increases the risk of an accident by ten percent and the chances of fatality by 20 percent. Statistically speaking, Eritrea is the least safe country to drive in with 48 road deaths per 100k citizens. Egypt and Libya logged 40 deaths per 100k or above. The United States saw only about 14 road deaths per 100k citizens, about the same as Azerbaijan, Turkey and Sri Lanka.
Another interesting stat would be deaths per 100k passenger miles. I suspect that Eritrea, Egypt et al are even worse on that basis, given the likely disparity between number of citizens and number of drivers/passengers.
Although somebody will certainly wring their hands, this is good news all around. It means that disease is playing a less important role in premature mortality. A renewed thank you to the conquerors of smallpox, polio and other scourges of mankind. And thanks to Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, the man who symbolizes the green revolution.
p24 is an eye opener: casualties decreased dramatically in all high income countries EXCEPT the U.S. It’s certainly not because of an antiquated vehicle fleet and probably not because of an old road network. Speed limits or even average speed are unlikely to be the cause either since they are lower in the U.S. than in most other developed nations.
More highway miles? Less police supervision? Worse drivers?
What are your opinions?
OK.
Being one of 11 Italian kids born and raised in a small box (Italian+ Catholic + poor = madness), I am betting the Italian statistic drove up the curve.
If you take out Italy, it most likely isn’t that bad.
And maybe New York’s data.
I’m not surprised that America’s fatality rate is so low. Even with some crazy and untrained drivers out there, overall I think driving in America is much more civilized than most places. Does anybody know if traffic fatalities rank similarly in significance in the U.S. compared to the rest of the world? I think I recall that it is indeed the leading killer of 15-29 year olds in the U.S., but I’m not sure, and I have no idea about the other age groups.
Oh, and props to chuckR for praising Norman Borlaug (I got a M.S. in Soil Science from U of MN, and my grad office was in Borlaug Hall). Perhaps nobody less remembered by Americans has had a bigger impact on millions of lives around the globe.
Now back to cars.
Statistically speaking, Eritrea is the least safe country to drive in with 48 road deaths per 100k citizens.
chuckR is right, “the least safe country to drive in” should be measured per passenger mile, but I agree, Eritrea would probably do even worse on that metric.
It’s impressive how safe the US is given the large number of passenger miles driven.
I am pretty sure that diarrhea is actually the leading cause of death for all age groups worldwide. Are they only counting non-diarrhea related deaths, or deaths that are likely in developed as well as less-developed countries? Maybe all deaths more awesome than shitting yourself to death?
Detroit-Iron, if what you say it’s true, it’s probably split into several different causes of diarrhea because it’s more of a symptom than a disease.
Here’s a question: if transporters like the ones in Star Trek are invented, but they have a fatal accident rate of 14 per 100k people (per year, I assume?), would you use them? I bet people who think they’re alive because they’re awesome drivers (almost everyone) would hesitate.
AKM: I blame SUV’s =].
Maybe I’m dumb, but what other causes of death exist for people aged 15-29? Heart disease, cancer, pneumonia, Wii-induced epilepsy? The young have to die of something, and the list of culprits isn’t that long.
Adub:
+1
More interesting to me from page 24 is how closely Canada and Australia’s trends mirror each other.
Granted, both are large, ex-Brit colonies, but the climate is quite different, we drive on different sides of the road, and there’s no real reason why our driver certification programs would be similar at all.
Well something has to be the number 1 cause of death, I’d rather it be car accidents than gang-shootings or AIDS.
“After age 45, it drops to the 8th most common cause of death thanks to an increase in driving ability and other death risks.”
This was tongue-in-cheek, right? (Just gotta make sure, since my sarcasm meter isn’t broken. It can be hard to tell at times with the interwebs…) I mean, the idea that people, generally, hit their driving prime after age 45 has got to be, well, wrong. Eyesight, hand-eye coordination, and reaction times are starting to nose-dive right around then.
I mean shit, how many F1 drivers are over 45? Hell, Schumi’s only 40 and has been retired for years… Wishful thinking on the part of an (aging?) author perhaps?
I’m going to have to give an old fashioned “+1” to the “increase in other death risks” factor. And yes, I am a fervent proponent of continual driver testing. Drivers should have to pass a driver’s test every 5/10 years to renew their license. People for some reason think it’s cute when elderly people who shouldn’t be driving cause accidents. It’s not.
I mean, the idea that people, generally, hit their driving prime after age 45 has got to be, well, wrong. Eyesight, hand-eye coordination, and reaction times are starting to nose-dive right around then.
Middle-aged drivers are the safest group on the road, and the under 25’s are, by far, the worst.
Accidents are not prevented with motor skills and talent. Rather, they are caused by recklessness and stupidity. Teens are exceptionally stupid behind the wheel and lack the fear of death required to motivate safer driving. Motor skills are not particularly important.
how many F1 drivers are over 45?
Driving on a track and driving on the street are entirely different things. Driving safety on the street comes from driving defensively and avoiding extremes. Anyone who drives on a public highway as if they’re competing at Le Mans is a menace to society who needs to be arrested.
casualties decreased dramatically in all high income countries EXCEPT the U.S.
Measuring fatalities by population is the wrong way to do it; mileage driven is more appropriate.
The simple answer is that Americans drive more than other western nations, so the fatality per population figures will be skewed. When viewed on a per mile basis, US fatality rates have dropped virtually every year for decades.
The US isn’t ranked at the top, but it performs fairly well compared to much of the developed world. There’s always room for improvement, but on the whole, the US doesn’t have anything to be particularly embarrassed about.
@Pch101: Agreed for sure – middle-aged drivers are likely the safest drivers on the road, but it ain’t because of their mad skills. As you say, it’s because of fewer risks taken, which doesn’t necessarily equate to “an increase in driving ability.”
Or as a good friend of mine (also middle-aged) likes to say, when talking about safety and insurance rates: “It’s because middle-aged people have forgotten that driving can be fun, but still have a few years before they forget how to drive.”
Also: “Anyone who drives on a public highway as if they’re competing at Le Mans is a menace to society who needs to be arrested. ” Agreed 100%. How old is Baruth?
Cars?! I figured it would be guns, red meat, bad water, lack of food, AIDS, or even angry white males? ;)
Mekkon,
I thikn Baruth is 37
@Pch101:
American drove more than other countries in 2008, but they also did in 2003 so that can’t be the explanation.
Maybe the explanation is that roads themself are safer in Sweden.