Approximately 1.9 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, which are the leading cause of mortality amongst people aged 5‑29 years. There is great disparity by income, with 92% of deaths resulting from road traffic happening in low- and middle‑income countries (WHO, 2023[1]). The burden of road traffic injuries falls disproportionately on vulnerable road users – pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Road injuries will cost the world economy USD 1.8 trillion (constant 2010 USD) in 2015‑2030, which is equivalent to an annual tax of 0.12% on global gross domestic product (Chen et al., 2019[2]).
In 2023, the 25 LAC countries with available data from WHO mortality database reported an average of 20 deaths per 100 000 for men and 4.2 deaths per 100 000 for women due to road traffic accidents, both well above the OECD37 averages of 7.5 and 2.0 deaths per 100 000 population, respectively (Figure 4.24). For all other LAC countries, mortality data are obtained from IHME modelled estimates. Countries with the highest male death rates from road traffic accidents also tend to have the highest female deaths rates, although there are some exceptions. Overall, across LAC countries, men are 4.8 times more likely to die in a road traffic accident than women. Haiti, Bolivia and Honduras have the highest male road traffic mortality in the region, with death rates exceeding 45 deaths per 100 000 population. Among females, the highest rates are observed in Haiti, Bolivia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and El Salvador, all above 9 deaths per 100 000 population. At the opposite end, the lowest rates in the region are observed in Jamaica and Grenada, both below 4 deaths per 100 000 population and the only LAC countries below the OECD37 male average. Among women, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the only country reporting 0 deaths in 2022 (latest year available), followed by Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda with 0.26, 0.98 and 1.60 deaths per 100 000 population, respectively.
The main risk factors for road traffic deaths and injuries are drinking and driving, speeding, and not using motorcycle helmets, seat belts and child restraints. Distracted driving is a growing threat to road safety, particularly due to the use of mobile phones and other in-vehicle technologies. Texting while driving causes cognitive, manual and visual distraction, and even hands-free phone use reduces driving performance (WHO, 2023[1]). As both handheld and hands-free devices create cognitive distraction, some national laws regulate both (Table 4.1). Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above 0.05g/dl (grammes per decilitre) substantially increases crash risk and the likelihood of fatal or serious injuries. Enforcement through random breath-testing checkpoints is highly cost effective and can reduce alcohol-related crashes by approximately 20%. As of 2023, all 30 LAC countries with data available have implemented national laws against drinking while driving. Wearing a seat belt reduces fatalities amongst vehicle occupants by up to 50%. However, Antigua and Barbuda does not have a national seat-belt law, and several other countries do not require seat belt use for all the occupants. Child restraint systems, including infant seats and booster seats, reduce the risk of death in a crash by about 71% among infants (WHO, 2023[1]), yet mandatory national child restraint laws exist only in 19 LAC countries. Speed management remains one of the main challenges for road safety and calls for a long-term and multidisciplinary response. National speed limits legislation exists in 28 LAC countries, with the exception of Dominica and Venezuela. However, in several countries local authorities can modify speed limits. Wearing a motorcycle helmet correctly reduces the risk of death by more than 6 times and severe injury by up to 74%. Enforcement of helmet laws can increase helmet-wearing rates to over 90% (WHO, 2023[1]). However, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica lack mandatory helmet regulations. In other LAC countries, motorcycle helmet wearing rates vary widely, being lower than 50% for both drivers and passengers in Ecuador and Paraguay, while six LAC countries report use rates over 90% for both.
In the LAC region, progress has been made over the past five years. For example, some countries have reduced their speed limits in rural and urban settings, including Colombia. New regulations on mobile phone use while driving have been introduced in Jamaica and Mexico. Mandatory motorcycle helmet legislation has been adopted in Guyana, and child restraint regulations have been introduced in Mexico. However, further policy action and investment are required to match the scale of the road traffic mortality burden in the region.
