Road Injuries and Road Fatalities

While contagious diseases tend to take center stage in discussions of public health, the reality is that physical injuries constitute a valid public health concern. Over the last few years, road injuries have become increasingly common and thus increasingly prominent as a public health issue both in the US and around the world.  In examining road injuries and traffic fatalities via this lens, we can better engage with the issue and with public health and medical intelligence as a whole.

Road Side Accidents, by the Numbers

The numbers are pretty grim: In 2021–the most recent year for which we have full numbers at this time–nearly 43,000 people in the United States died in road accidents. Pulling back and looking at the worldwide situation, 1.35 million people die every year as a result of road accidents. In 2021, road accidents were a leading cause of death among people 15-49 and held the top position in 2019. Again pulling back to a global view, 3,700 people die every day as a result of roadway accidents. Roughly half of these are pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. Nations with lower rates of automobile ownership often have more dangerous roads, with some of the worst found in various nations across central and southern Africa.

Furthermore, the numbers are rising rapidly; in the US road injuries and fatalities jump over 10% from 2020 to 2021. While accidents involving commercial vehicles have been on the decline for years now, the growing number of fatalities in road accidents overall is a serious concern and a consideration for public servants on all levels. 

Road Injuries and Deaths are an Ongoing Crisis

In the US, research reveals an important correlation between road injuries, road fatalities, and age. Of the nearly 36,000 deaths reported for the 15-24 age bracket during 2020, “unintentional injury” was the leading cause, with 15,117 fatalities. Of those deaths by unintentional injury, the leading single cause was motor vehicle/traffic accidents with 6,741 deaths. This is a crisis in its own right, per Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator: “This crisis on our roads is urgent and preventable. We will redouble our safety efforts, and we need everyone – state and local governments, safety advocates, automakers, and drivers – to join us. All of our lives depend on it.” 

With that in mind, in 2022 the National Highway Transit and Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation launched a number of initiatives designed to curtail road injuries and road fatalities:

• The Click It or Ticket campaign is a nationwide, multi-level program with the goal of encouraging the public to make use of seatbelts to make driving safer.
• In May 2022, the NHTSA released $740 million to the states to enable them to address risky driving and road safety.
• The SafeCar App lets users receive updates on recalls, safety issues, and other pertinent information regarding their vehicles. 

VIGILINT Telemedicine Memberships

Additionally, VIGILINT’s telemedicine membership provides immediate access to an Emergency Medicine physician or Cleveland Clinic specialist and evacuation coordination. Before traveling to regions with high rates of road traffic accidents contact VIGILINT for itinerary-specific medical plans and identification of the most appropriate medical care in the area.

Roadway safety remains an issue; fatalities are projected to rise both in the US and around the world in 2023. As a public health concern, road injuries and road deaths are a primary concern. From a medical intelligence point of view, they represent an important data set for planning purposes.  If you want to become a VIGILINT member with immediate access to an Emergency Medicine physician, please call or enroll today!