World sees 8% fall in road deaths in even as vehicle numbers surge: WHO
Global road traffic deaths have declined by 8% since 2010 despite a massive increase in the number of motor vehicles worldwide. The World Health Organization attributes this progress to improved road safety strategies, though significant regional disparities and rising motorcycle fatalities remain critical challenges.
Why it matters
This report highlights the effectiveness of global policy interventions in public health and underscores the urgent need for infrastructure reform to protect vulnerable road users like pedestrians and motorcyclists.
NEW DELHI: Road traffic deaths globally declined by 8% to 11.6 lakh annually and fatality rates dropped by 21% between 2010 and 2025 despite the addition of more than one billion motor vehicles, according to a new estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO).As per the WHO, road crashes continue to claim a heavy toll, with an estimated 11.6 lakh people killed in 2025 compared to 12.6 lakh in 2010 when the first decade of action for road safety was launched.
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