World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention

Worldwide, nearly 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic crashes every years and 20 million to 50 million more are injured or disabled. These injuries account for 2.1 % of global mortality and 2.6 % of all DALYs lost. Low- and middle-income countries account for about 85 % of the deaths and 90 % of the DALYs lost annually. Without appropriate action, by 2020, road traffic injuries are predicted to be the third leading contributor to the global burden of disease. The economic cost of road traffic crashes is enormous. Globally it is estimated that US $ 518 billion is spent on road traffic crashes with low- and middle-income countries accounting for US $ 65 billion – more than these countries receive in development assistance. But these costs are just the tip of the iceberg. For everyone killed, injured or disabled by a road traffic crash there are countless others deeply affected. Many families are driven into poverty by the expenses of prolonged medical care, loss of a family breadwinner, or the added burden of caring for the disabled. Since 2000, WHO has stepped up its response in this area by firstly developing a 5-