Road deaths have declined globally since 1990 except in poorer countries, study finds

A study published in Lancet Public Health reveals that global road injury and death rates have fallen more than 30% between 1990 and 2023, but progress is uneven. While high-income countries like the U.S. have seen recent declines—U.S. road deaths fell to about 36,600 in 2025 after peaking at 43,000 in 2021—low-income countries still account for 90% of road fatalities. The World Health Organization reported that traffic crashes killed over 1.1 million people in 2025 and remain the leading cause of death for those aged 5-29. Factors include lack of safety measures in poorer nations, larger vehicles in the U.S., and distracted driving. The findings coincide with a UN high-level meeting on global road safety in New York City.