Every year, almost 1.2 million people are killed in road accidents around the world, and between 20 and 50 million injured or disabled. If these trends continue, injuries from road accidents will rank as the eighth main cause of death by 2030.

The main group concerned is young people. Road accidents are the main cause of death for young people aged between 10 and 24.  Every year, almost 400,000 youngsters are 25 are killed in these circumstances.

Most of these young people live in low- or middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region. In these countries, pedestrians, cyclists, motorbike riders and passengers are the most vulnerable groups. In developed countries, however, it is the riders of two-wheeled vehicles who are most strongly exposed.

Safety worldwide: key figures

• 1.2 million deaths/year, o/w 400,000 young people under 25/year
• Between 20 and 50 million people injured and disabled/year 

Source: WHO – World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention – 2004

WHO – Report on Youth and Road Safety - 2007

In Europe, the number of road accident victims has been falling over the past 15 years and longer. European Commission figures show a fall of 40% between 1991 (76,000 victims) and 2007 (42,500). According to the WHO, this trend should continue: the number of accidents in OECD countries could still fall by a further 30% by 2020.

This fall in the number of road fatalities can be attributed to a number of factors:

• regulations,
• road safety education and awareness-raising campaigns,
• controls and sanctions,
• road traffic management with, for example, road signs and deviations,
• improved infrastructure,
• more effective protection systems fitted by manufacturers on their vehicles.  

Safety in Europe: key figures

• 42,500 victims in 2007
• A 40% fall in the number of victims over 15 years
• A 30% fall in the number of victims forecast by 2020

Source: CARE, Road safety evolution in EU, October 2008