Health > Motor vehicle deaths: Countries Compared
Author: chris.lockyer781
Every year, almost 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic accidents, and at least 20 million are left injured or disabled. The average global mortality rate from motor vehicle related deaths is 19 per 100,000 population. Data from the WHO In 2002 shows that worldwide, 2.1% of deaths are due to road traffic injuries, and that it ranks 11th as cause of death overall. Among deaths due to injury, 23% are from road fatalities.
One third of the total number of motor vehicle deaths is comprised of people below 25 years of age. This part of the population represents two high risk groups: adolescent and young adult drivers and children who are more vulnerable to physical injury. In children between 5 to 9 years, it ranks as the 3rd leading cause of mortality worldwide.
More road traffic injuries are seen in low to middle income countries. These countries account for more than 90% of all road fatalities worldwide. The rate of motor vehicle deaths in low and middle income countries is 20.2 per 100,000 population while in high income countries, it is at 12.6. Within high income countries, people of lower socioeconomic status are more prone to road traffic accidents.
Regionally, the highest mortality rate from road traffic accidents is in Africa at 28.3 per 100,000 population, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean region at 26.4. Europe has the lowest average rate at 11.
By country, the highest rates are found in El Salvador at 41.7 per 100,000 and the Dominican Republic at 41.0. The lowest rates are in The Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain at 6.8, 6.7 and 5.9 per 100,000, respectively. In the United States, the number of cases of road traffic fatalities is at 15.2 per 100,000.
Males have a higher risk of dying from road traffic injuries than females across all countries. Men comprise 77% of all road traffic fatalities. The risk of dying from motor vehicle accidents is 3 times higher in young males below the age of 25 years compared to their female counterparts.
The total cost of road traffic injuries worldwide is $518 billion per year. This includes cost of medical care, disabilities and damage to property.
Citations:
1) World Health Organization. Media Centre: Road traffic injuries. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs358/en/
2) World Report on Road Traffic Injury prevention. 2002. http://www.who.int/violenceinjuryprevention/publications/roadtraffic/worldreport/chapter2.pdf
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Every year, almost 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic accidents, and at least 20 million are left injured or disabled. The average global mortality rate from motor vehicle related deaths is 19 per 100,000 population. Data from the WHO In 2002 shows that worldwide, 2.1% of deaths are due to road traffic injuries, and that it ranks 11th as cause of death overall. Among deaths due to injury, 23% are from road fatalities.
One third of the total number of motor vehicle deaths is comprised of people below 25 years of age. This part of the population represents two high risk groups: adolescent and young adult drivers and children who are more vulnerable to physical injury. In children between 5 to 9 years, it ranks as the 3rd leading cause of mortality worldwide.
More road traffic injuries are seen in low to middle income countries. These countries account for more than 90% of all road fatalities worldwide. The rate of motor vehicle deaths in low and middle income countries is 20.2 per 100,000 population while in high income countries, it is at 12.6. Within high income countries, people of lower socioeconomic status are more prone to road traffic accidents.
Regionally, the highest mortality rate from road traffic accidents is in Africa at 28.3 per 100,000 population, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean region at 26.4. Europe has the lowest average rate at 11.
By country, the highest rates are found in El Salvador at 41.7 per 100,000 and the Dominican Republic at 41.0. The lowest rates are in The Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain at 6.8, 6.7 and 5.9 per 100,000, respectively. In the United States, the number of cases of road traffic fatalities is at 15.2 per 100,000.
Males have a higher risk of dying from road traffic injuries than females across all countries. Men comprise 77% of all road traffic fatalities. The risk of dying from motor vehicle accidents is 3 times higher in young males below the age of 25 years compared to their female counterparts.
The total cost of road traffic injuries worldwide is $518 billion per year. This includes cost of medical care, disabilities and damage to property.
Citations:
1) World Health Organization. Media Centre: Road traffic injuries. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs358/en/
2) World Report on Road Traffic Injury prevention. 2002. http://www.who.int/violenceinjuryprevention/publications/roadtraffic/worldreport/chapter2.pdf
Posted on 14 Apr 2014
chris.lockyer781
396 Stat enthusiast
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Posted on 04 Apr 2005
Ian Graham, Staff Editor
