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According to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) report, pedestrians, two-wheeler riders and cyclists account for 66 per cent of road accident deaths in South-East Asia, while two-wheeler and three-wheeler riders account for the highest number of fatalities in India. The “WHO South-East Asia Regional Status Report on Road Safety” was released during “Safety 2024”, the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion 2024, which began on Monday. Globally, 30 per cent of road traffic deaths involve two-wheeler and three-wheeler users, according to the World Health Organisation.
WHO report
Four-wheeler passengers account for 25 per cent of these deaths and pedestrians for 21 per cent. Cyclists account for five per cent of deaths. The remaining 20 per cent include passengers of large vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and other types of vehicles. The report said, “In the WHO South-East Asia Region, 46 per cent of road traffic deaths are caused by two-wheeler and three-wheeler users, 12 per cent by four-wheeler users, 17 per cent by pedestrians, three per cent by cyclists and 22 per cent by others. Across all these countries, 66 per cent of total road traffic deaths are caused by vulnerable road users (pedestrians, motorised two-wheeler users and cyclists).”
The number of deaths in different countries
“Two- and three-wheeler drivers or passengers are the most prevalent among all road user categories in India (45.1 per cent), Maldives (100 per cent), Myanmar (47 per cent) and Thailand (51.4 per cent),” it said. No country in the South Asian Region has achieved its projected target of reducing road traffic deaths by 50 per cent, the WHO said. Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Social Determinants of Health, said road traffic crashes are one of the major crises of the 21st century.
Those who can’t afford a car are also among those who die
He said, “A large proportion of people who die in road accidents are those who cannot afford a car.” WHO has called for accelerating measures to reduce road traffic deaths. Road accidents are a leading cause of death among young people in the age group of 15-29 years. WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Saima Wazed said in her address, “Pedestrians, cyclists and other road users including two-wheelers or three-wheelers account for 66 per cent of all road traffic deaths recorded in our region.”
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