New PAHO report on road safety highlights slow progress in reducing traffic deaths

Feb 07, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News-A new Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) report on road safety reveals that in 2021, traffic accidents caused just over 145,000 deaths in the Americas, accounting for 12% of global deaths from this cause.

Despite some progress, the rate of reduction in road fatalities has been slow and uneven, underlining the urgent need for stronger, more comprehensive national policies. The report, entitled “Saving lives by promoting a safe approach to road systems in the Americas”, is based on the most recent data available, collected in 31 countries and one territory in the region. This is the fifth edition of the report since 2009. Due to the impact of the pandemic in 2020, the years 2010 and 2021 have been compared.

According to the study, the road death rate in the Americas fell by 9.37% between 2010 and 2021, reflecting the slow pace of progress, with only nine countries managing to reduce the number of deaths. At sub-regional level, North America and the Caribbean saw an increase in mortality rates. By contrast, the Southern Cone and the Andean zone recorded significant reductions.

“Road safety remains a major public health challenge in the region,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO. “Despite the efforts made, the figures remain unacceptable. Road safety is not just a question of infrastructure or legislation, it is a matter of life and death for millions of people. It is essential that countries implement comprehensive measures to protect all road users, especially the most vulnerable.”

Around 37% of traffic fatalities occur in high-income countries, even though they account for only 41% of the population, 57% of registered vehicles and 49% of the territory. By contrast, lower-middle-income countries, which account for only 5% of the population and 3% of the territory, concentrate 7% of fatalities, despite having only 1% of registered vehicles. The fatal victims of road accidents are mainly men (79%) and young adults aged 18 to 44 (54%). However, the impact is not limited to fatalities. In 2021, more than 4 million people suffered non-fatal injuries in the region, including 638,620 serious injuries with permanent after-effects.

The report also highlights the disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable users. Between 2009 and 2021, deaths of motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists rose from 39% to 47% of total road fatalities. By 2021, motorcyclists will account for 27% of fatalities, pedestrians for 17% and cyclists for 3%. This trend contrasts with the slight fall in fatalities among occupants of four-wheeled vehicles.

“Motorcyclist safety remains an urgent priority. To reduce this type of fatality, it is essential to improve road infrastructure, enforce stricter laws on helmet and seatbelt use and driving under the influence of alcohol, and promote safer driving practices,” said Ricardo Pérez-Núñez, Regional Road Safety Advisor at PAHO.

The report highlights the need to strengthen institutional management to improve road safety. Although some countries have made progress in terms of policies and regulatory frameworks, there is still a lack of coordination and training in many cases. As far as infrastructure is concerned, while several countries have improved roads through measures such as pedestrian protection zones and better signage, further investment is needed, particularly in rural areas and regions with a high incidence of accidents.

With regard to safer vehicles, the report highlights the benefits of international standards such as electronic stability control and airbags. However, implementation of these standards is still insufficient in some countries, limiting their impact.

The report also stresses the importance of reducing risky behaviors such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of cell phones. It also calls for greater use of safety devices such as helmets and seatbelts. Finally, with regard to post-accident response, although several countries have improved access to medical and rehabilitation services, disparities persist in response times and coverage, necessitating an improvement in emergency infrastructure. PAHO calls on governments to adopt a comprehensive “safe systems” approach that includes improving road infrastructure, strengthening traffic regulations and increasing vehicle safety. In addition, the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors to solve this public health problem is emphasized.

(New PAHO report on road safety highlights slow progress in reducing traffic deaths)

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