Road Traffic Deaths Surge in Africa Despite Global Decline, WHO Report Reveals

The WHO Status Report on Road Safety 2023 for the African Region highlights a troubling 17% increase in road-related fatalities between 2010 and 2021.

Road traffic death rates have surged significantly in the African region over the past decade, with nearly 250,000 lives lost on the continent's roads in 2021 alone. This stark contrast comes as global road traffic death rates fell by 5% during the same period, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO Status Report on Road Safety 2023 for the African Region highlights a troubling 17% increase in road-related fatalities between 2010 and 2021. Despite accounting for only 15% of the world’s population and 3% of its vehicles, the African region represents nearly one-fifth of all road deaths globally.

The report attributes the rise to several factors, including inadequate road safety laws and standards. No country in the region meets best practice standards for the five key road safety behavioral risk factors: speeding, drink driving, non-use of motorcycle helmets, seatbelts, and child restraints.

“The findings of this report point to a serious public health concern for African countries, with hundreds of thousands of lives being lost unnecessarily,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “As WHO, we’re committed to working hand in hand with countries to tackle this preventable threat and continue to fully support all efforts to make our roads safer for motorists and pedestrians alike.”

Males aged between 15 and 64 years are the primary victims of road traffic crashes, with vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians being the worst affected. The report notes that road-related deaths of motorcyclists have doubled over the past decade.

Few countries in the region have made progress in establishing transport systems that cater to alternative modes of transport, such as bicycles, motorcycles, or pedestrians, as well as efficient public transport. These multimodal transport systems are determined to be more equitable, environmentally friendly, and safer for road users.

Africa is currently one of the fastest-growing markets for used vehicles. Since the 2013 Status Report, total vehicle registration has almost doubled, while two- and three-wheel vehicle registrations have tripled. However, only 13 countries have national strategies to promote walking and cycling.

While there has been progress in introducing laws governing safety equipment in vehicles, pedestrian protection remains largely unaddressed. Road infrastructure safety ratings are also notably low, with only a small percentage meeting acceptable standards for various road users.

WHO is collaborating with countries to strengthen key road safety pillars through advocacy, technical support, awareness-raising, and training. This has improved the capacity of countries like Zambia to collect and report road traffic death data.

Currently, most road traffic data systems in Africa capture only road-related deaths, excluding information about injuries and their severity, including medium- and long-term consequences such as disability. Additionally, post-crash care services are inadequate or unavailable in most countries, with fewer than one-third meeting recommended levels of access to pre-hospital care, emergency care, and treatment and rehabilitation services.

To achieve the United Nations General Assembly target of halving the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2030, WHO recommends concerted efforts to implement a range of interventions to strengthen national road safety strategies in Africa. These include policies that promote sustainable transportation systems, improved legislative road safety frameworks, investment in data management systems, improved post-crash response, and research tailored to the continent’s unique challenges.