Health and Transport

• Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, show slower progress in reducing fatalities compared to car occupants.
• Men account for 75% of road traffic fatalities, consistently over the past decade.
• Adults aged 25–64 make up approximately 60% of road traffic fatalities, reflecting their increased exposure due to higher mobility and economic activity.

SDG Target 3.6 seeks to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accident by 2020. Unfortunately, this ambitious target was not met in the UNECE region. While progress has been made in reducing fatalities, the rate of improvement has been uneven across different road user groups, and significant challenges remain. The UNECE continues to compile and analyse road safety data from its member States, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of road traffic accidents and their impact on society. Detailed data are available on the UNECE data portal. Additionally, UNECE publishes a biennial report titled Statistics of Road Traffic Accidents in Europe and North America. Road safety is relatively well covered in the global indicator, but more granular data allow deeper insights into how collisions occur and who the victims are. Read here our story on road safety progress in the UNECE region.

Disparities in fatality trends

The trend in fatalities among passenger car occupants compared to vulnerable road users, which include pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, highlights significant disparities. Over the past decade, safety improvements for car occupants have outpaced those for vulnerable road users. Despite a temporary drop in 2020 due to reduced mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic, fatalities for vulnerable groups have generally increased. These trends underscore the importance of designing road safety measures that address the unique risks faced by vulnerable groups while ensuring equitable protection for all road users.

Figure 1 Index of fatalities for passenger car occupants against vulnerable road users, 2010 - 2021 (2010 = 100)

Distribution of fatalities by age group in the UNECE region remains relatively stable

An analysis of road traffic fatalities by age group reveals consistent patterns. The 25–64 years age group, which accounts for approximately 60% of fatalities, remains the most affected. This can partly be attributed to the broader age range covered by this category, but it also highlights the increased exposure of this economically active group to road traffic incidents. The 65+ years age group also shows a notable percentage of fatalities, emphasizing the need for targeted road safety measures to protect elderly.

Figure 2 Total fatalities in road traffic accidents by age group

Males consistently accounted for a higher proportion of road traffic fatalities

The overall distribution between male and female fatalities in the UNECE region from 2010 to 2021 was relatively stable, with no significant shifts in the proportion. On average, males represented around 75% of the total fatalities each year. The higher proportion of male fatalities can be explained by the fact that men are more likely to drive and spend more time on the road compared to women. However, women are 47% more likely to be injured and 17 times more likely to be killed compared to men involved in a car crash1.

1 unece.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/2321576_E_ECE_MISC_2023_14_Rev.1_WEB.pdf

Figure 3 Drivers and passengers killed in road traffic accidents by sex