Road Safety (and Lack thereof) Case Studies from around the World

An inordinate amount of traffic fatalities occur in developing parts of the world. In some countries, road deaths have surpassed diseases like AIDS and Tuberculosis as a public health threat.

2 minute read

January 14, 2014, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Washington Post has collected testimonies and data from writers in countries like Nigeria, Indonesia, Colombia, and Mali in a large “Roads Kill” feature. Despite efforts like the U.N. General Assembly’s 2010 resolution proclaiming a “Decade of Action for Road Safety,” donor funding has fallen well below targets and road deaths are increasing: a global death toll of 1.24 million per year is expected to triple by 2030.

Some of the key statistics reported by Tom Hundley and Dan McCarey at the beginning of the "Roads Kill" feature:

  • “Poor countries account for 50 percent of the world’s road traffic but 90 percent of the traffic fatalities.”
  • “The costs associated with these deaths are a ‘poverty-inducing problem,’ according to Jose Luis Irigoyen, a traffic safety specialist at the World Bank. ‘It’s costing on average between 1 and 3 percent of GDP’ in low- and middle-income countries, he said, an amount that can offset the billions of dollars in aid money that these countries currently receive.”

The “Roads Kill” feature also includes an interactive map that surveys the world for case studies, including success stories such as Australia, described as the “poster boy” for reform: “In the mid-1970s, Aussies were among the world’s most reckless drivers, with a death rate of more than 30 per 100,000 in population. But strict enforcement of safe driving laws resulted in an 80 percent decline in road fatalities over the next six decades.”

Monday, January 13, 2014 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Two people on bikes riding down paved Burke-Gilman bike trail in King County, Washington on a sunny day.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

6 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Small green ADU cottage in lush backyard in San Jose, California.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits

The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

7 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Large oak tree in meadow with sun filtering from behind it in Angeles National Forest.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods

Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.

April 8 - ASLA The Dirt