More than 1.3 million people died in traffic accidents worldwide over the course of a year
In 2023, traffic accidents caused the deaths of approximately 1.34 million people worldwide, and more than 50 million others were injured. These figures are cited in a new study published in the journal *The Lancet Public Health*. In Ukraine, traffic accidents also remain one of the leading causes of death and injury.
Researchers analyzed data from 204 countries and territories for the period from 1990 to 2023, using information from hospitals, police reports, death registries, and population surveys. Although mortality and injury rates per capita have decreased over the past decades, the absolute number of traffic fatalities continues to rise.
The largest group of victims consists of drivers and passengers of passenger cars, trucks, and buses: they accounted for nearly 40% of all injuries and 518,000 deaths in 2023. Pedestrians account for 22.7% of those injured, cyclists for 19.8%, and motorcyclists for 13.2%.
Since 2010, traffic fatality rates have declined in 80 countries. At the same time, they have risen by 13.2% in the United States and by nearly 50% in Ghana. More than 90% of traffic-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The study’s authors specifically noted that for men aged 10 to 39, traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death.
According to the researchers’ estimates, approximately 350,000 traffic-related injuries were recorded in Ukraine in 2023. The incidence rate was 1,024 cases per 100,000 population—higher than the global average. At the same time, the mortality rate in Ukraine was lower than the global average—8.7 cases per 100,000 population. Since 1990, this rate has decreased by approximately 44%, which is a more significant reduction than the global average.
Source: The Lancet Public Health
As a reminder, a former rival of a Ukrainian boxer will stand trial for a traffic accident involving police and cocaine.
Prior to this, Anthony Joshua was involved in a fatal traffic accident—video.
