WHO urges road deaths law changes

Countries must introduce tougher laws to prevent drivers from speeding or drinking and help reduce the toll of 1.25m people killed each year in traffic accidents, the World Health Organisation said.

The US, Indonesia, and Nigeria are among countries failing to apply best practices, claims the WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015.

Too often safety features are sacrificed in order to keep down car prices, said Dr Etienne Krug.

“Better laws are needed on speed, drinking and driving, use of motorcycle helmets, seat belts and child restraints,” said WHO director-general Margaret Chan.

Halving the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2020 is among the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals adopted last month by world leaders.

Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable, accounting for 49% of fatalities, it said.

Chan said that low and medium income countries accounted for 85% of road traffic deaths despite having 54% of the world’s vehicles. Europe has the lowest death rates and Africa the highest.

Road safety measures include better safety features on vehicles, the report said.

“We are talking about some rather simple and basic things such as seat belts, such as front-impact regulations, such as electric stability control,” Krug said.