WHO REPORT ON TRAFFIC DEATH Syllabus GS Paper 3 - Infra-Roads)

Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that road traffic deaths fell by 5% to 1.19 million annually worldwide between 2010 and 2021, with 108 United Nations member countries reporting a drop.

Key Findings of Report

• Rising Road Traffic Fatalities in India: The 'Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023' reveals an increase in road traffic fatalities in India from 1.34 lakh in 2010 to 1.54 lakh in 2021.
• Global Success Stories: Ten countries, including Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Denmark, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Russian Federation, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela, achieved a remarkable reduction of over 50% in road traffic deaths.

o35 countries demonstrated notable progress, successfully reducing road traffic fatalities by 30% to 50%.

• Impact on Children and Youth:
• As of 2019, road crashes emerged as the primary cause of deaths among children and youth aged five to 29 years.
• Global Trends Over the Decade: Over the past decade, a 5% reduction in absolute numbers of road traffic fatalities occurred globally.
• Vehicle Growth: "The report highlighted a 160% increase in the global motor vehicle fleet during the same period. Consequently, annual fatality rates per 1 lakh vehicles decreased from 79 deaths to 47 deaths, reflecting a 41% reduction."

World Health Organization

• About: WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. 
• Establishment: April 7 1948
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Leading Role: The WHO has played a leading role in several public health achievements, most notably the eradication of smallpox, the near-eradication of polio, and the development of an Ebola vaccine.