India, China get WHO top ranking for traffic accident deaths
Road accidents will become the fifth leading cause of death in the world by 2030. Highlights of the report on 178 countries
Over 1.2 million people die and 20-50 million get injured in road accidents every year
The number may increase to 2.4 million deaths per year by 2030 if remedial measures are not taken
46 per cent of those who die are pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler users; in poor countries these people account for 80 per cent deaths
91.5 per cent of world's fatalities occur in lower and middle income countries that have only 48 per cent of the world's registered vehicles
62 per cent of the road traffic deaths happen in 10 countries led by India, China, US, and the Russian Federation
10 countries with lowest fatalities are led by the Netherlands, Sweden and UK; they too need to improve road safety
US $518 billion of the global losses are caused by road accidents
In people between 5 and 44, road accident is one of the top three leading causes of death
Source Global status report on road safety, 2009, WHO
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