Lancet Public Health
Coverage of Lancet Public Health in the Nexus archive.
- Road deaths have declined globally since 1990 except in poorer countries, study finds
Road deaths have declined globally by over 30% since 1990, but lower-income countries have seen little improvement. A study in Lancet Public Health highlights disparities, noting 90% of road deaths occur in low-income nations, while the WHO reports a 21% decline in road traffic deaths from 2011 to 2025 despite 1.1 million annual fatalities. In the U.S., road deaths declined in 2024-2025 after rising in the previous decade, with pedestrian deaths dropping by 7% in 2025.
- Road deaths have declined globally since 1990 except in poorer countries, study finds
Road deaths have declined globally by over 30% since 1990, but lower-income countries show little improvement. The WHO reported a 21% decline in road traffic deaths between 2011 and 2025, yet 90% of road deaths occur in low-income countries where safety measures lag behind urbanization and motor vehicle growth. In the U.S., fatalities peaked in 2021 but began declining in 2024.