Road Crashes Claimed 1.16 Million Lives in 2025, WHO Reports
Road crashes killed 1.16 million people worldwide in 2025 despite significant progress in reducing road traffic deaths over the past 15 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The new data shows the global road traffic death rate fell by 21% between 2011 and 2025, even as more than one billion additional motor vehicles were added to the world’s roads. Yet road traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 years.
The findings were released as United Nations (UN) Member States adopted a new General Assembly declaration aimed at accelerating efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030, compared with 2021 levels.
“This progress shows that change is possible when countries invest in safe road systems,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He said the declaration should help speed up efforts to design roads that prioritize people rather than vehicles, stressing that all road deaths are preventable.
The declaration commits countries to strengthening national road safety strategies through clear targets, dedicated funding and stronger institutions. It also calls for better crash data, tougher traffic laws, safer vehicles and improved road infrastructure.
Central to the agreement is the “safe system” approach, which recognizes that human error is unavoidable and focuses on reducing the severity of crashes through safer roads, lower speed limits, safer vehicles and effective enforcement.
WHO warned that rapid changes in global transport continue to create new safety challenges. The number of motorcycles more than tripled between 2011 and 2025 due to the growth of ride-hailing and delivery services, with motorcyclists now accounting for nearly one-third of all road traffic deaths. The agency noted that wearing certified motorcycle helmets can reduce the risk of death in a crash by more than six times.
New transport technologies, including e-scooters, e-bikes and autonomous vehicles, also require updated safety regulations to protect road users, WHO said.
Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, said more than half of all road traffic deaths involve pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists rather than car occupants.
“We know what works, strong laws and enforcement, safe infrastructure and safer vehicles, with particular attention to lowering speed and addressing impaired driving,” he said.
Progress remains uneven across regions. WHO reported a 36% decline in road deaths in Europe and a 15% reduction in the Western Pacific Region, while South-East Asia recorded a modest 2% decline. The Americas saw no significant change, and the African Region experienced a 17% increase in road traffic deaths.
The report said improving road safety not only saves lives but also promotes healthier cities by encouraging walking, cycling and public transport, reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality.
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