WHO Report: Road Accident Deaths in India Surge by 2% during the Period 2010-2021

Current Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report titled “WHO South-East Asia Regional Status Report on Road Safety: Towards Safer and Sustainable Mobility”.

• This report was published on September 2, 2024, during the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (Safety 2024) held in New Delhi.
• Here are some key points from the report:
• Increase in Road Traffic Deaths: India saw a 2% increase in estimated road traffic deaths during the period 2010-2021.
• Fatalities in 2021: India reported 1,53,973 road traffic fatalities in 2021, but WHO estimates the number to be around 2,16,618.
• Vulnerable Road Users: The highest number of fatalities were among drivers/riders of motorized two/three-wheelers (45.1%), followed by pedestrians (19%), and drivers/passengers of motorized four-wheelers (12.9%).
• Regional Impact: The South-East Asia Region, which includes India, accounted for about 28% of global road traffic deaths in 2021.
• The report emphasizes the need for accelerated measures to improve road safety, especially for vulnerable road users like pedestrians, bicyclists, and two/three-wheelers.

Question:

1 What was the percentage increase in estimated road traffic deaths in India during the period 2010-2021, according to the WHO South-East Asia Regional Status Report?

• A) 1%
• B) 2%
• C) 3%
• D) 4%

Answer: B) The report highlights that India saw a 2% increase in estimated road traffic deaths during the period from 2010 to 2021.