Countries with the Most Car Accidents
Countries with the Most Car Accidents
Car accidents typically happen when you least expect them—hence the word “accident”. However, there are many factors that contribute to car accidents, making them sometimes more predictable than you’d think.
Approximately 1.19 million people lose their lives each year as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
This article explores global statistics surrounding car accidents, including the most common causes, as well as the countries with the highest and lowest rates of crashes. The numbers may surprise you!
Car Accident Stats
A few key facts about car accidents worldwide:
- Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years.
- More than half of all car accident fatalities are among vulnerable road users, including: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
- 92% of the world's fatalities on the roads occur in low- and middle-income countries, even though these countries have around 60% of the world's vehicles.
- Motor vehicle accidents cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product.
- Males are typically 3 times more likely to lose their life in car accidents than females.
Top Causes: Distracted Driving
Distracted driving isresponsible for approximately 2,800 deaths and over 400,000 injuries in a single year.
There are many types of distractions that can lead to dangerous driving, most commonly the use of mobile phones. According to the WHO, “
Drivers using mobile phones are approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers not using a mobile phone.”
Top Causes: Speeding
In the United States, speeding-related crashes accounted for around 9,378 deaths in one recent year.
Speeding is directly related to both the likelihood of a crash happening and to the severity of the consequences of the crash. For example, according to the WHO, “
every 1% increase in mean speed produces a 4% increase in the fatal crash risk and a 3% increase in the serious crash risk.”
The risk of fatal injuries to pedestrians also significantly increases with the speed of the vehicle.
In car-to-car side impacts the fatality risk for car passengers is 85% at 65 km/h.
Top Causes: Impaired Driving
In the United States, impaired driving resulted in about 10,142 fatalities in a given year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “the risk of a road traffic crash starts at low levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and increases significantly when the driver's BAC is ≥ 0.04 g/dl.”
In terms of other substances, “the risk of a fatal crash occurring among those who have used amphetamines is about 5 times the risk of someone who hasn't.”