Road Safety Week 2024

Road Safety Week, occurring annually from January 11th to 17th, aims to foster a safety-conscious environment on our roads. This week-long initiative concentrates on educating, advocating, and involving the community in promoting road safety. It serves as a vital prompt about our collective duty to prioritize everyone’s safety while traveling and underscores the importance of shared responsibility.

Here are some very compelling facts that everyone should know about;

One death occurs on the road every 24 seconds globally, resulting in approximately 3,700 lives lost daily and around 1.3 million per year due to road traffic crashes.

The primary cause of mortality among young individuals, aged 5 to 29, is road crashes, claiming the lives of roughly 500 children daily. This tragic loss deprives them of their potential to dream, grow, and contribute meaningfully to society.

A striking 93% of worldwide traffic and road-related fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries, despite these nations owning about 60% of the world’s vehicles. Those most impacted in these countries are often pedestrians, passengers in various types of vehicles, such as two or three-wheelers, cyclists, and those on public transportation, unlike high-income countries where drivers face a higher risk.

According to US research, women face a staggering 17 times higher risk of death and a 47% increased likelihood of injury in road crashes. This vulnerability stems from their frequent roles as pedestrians or passive vehicle passengers rather than drivers.

Road traffic crashes typically cost countries 3% of their gross domestic product, diverting significant funds away from essential national priorities.

These crashes also divert vital healthcare resources, especially detrimental in low-income areas already struggling with limited access to healthcare and facing other significant health challenges, including the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Africa experiences the highest rates of road traffic fatalities globally due to the lack of prioritization for road safety in the continent’s lower-income regions.

The transport sector accounts for approximately 23% of energy-related carbon emissions, and without concerted efforts to prioritize road safety, this percentage is forecasted to rise, making the transport sector the fastest-growing contributor to energy-related emissions.