Le nouveau rapport de l’OPS sur la sécurité routière met en évidence la lenteur et l’irrégularité des progrès accomplis dans la réduction du nombre de décès dus aux accidents de la route dans les Amériques – PAHO/WHO

Washington DC, January 22, 2025 (PAHO) – A new report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on routine safety will be revealed in 2021, traffic accidents caused an additional 145,000 deaths in the Americas, ce qui represente 12% des décès mondiaux dus à este cause. Malgré sures progrès, le taux de réduction du nombre de tués sur les routes a été lent et inégal, soulignant le kiss urgent de politiques nationales plus fortes et plus complètes.

The report, entitled « Sauver des vies en promouvant une approche sûre des systèmes routiers dans les Amériques », is based on the most recent data available, collected in 31 countries and in one territory of the region. Il s’agit de la cinquième édition du rapport depuis 2009. En raison de l’impact de la pandémie en 2020, les années 2010 et 2021 ont été comparées.

According to the study, the routine mortality rate in the Americas has decreased by 9.37% between 2010 and 2021, causing the lens of progress, in new countries, to reduce its name. At the subregional level, North America and the Caribbean continue to increase mortality levels. In revanche, the southern region and the Andean zone ont registered significant reductions.

«Routine safety is a major public health challenge in the region,» stated Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO. «I wasted the efforts made, the chiffres are unacceptable. Routine security is not just a matter of infrastructure or legislation, it is a matter of life and death for millions of people. It is essential that countries implement comprehensive measures to protect all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. »

Disparities in the décès and the groups that have the most touchés

Around 37% of fatal traffic accidents occur in high-income countries, although these countries do not represent 41% of the population, 57% of unregistered vehicles and 49% of the territory. In contrast, lower-income countries, which do not represent 5% of the population and 3% of the territory, concentrate 7% of the décès, while they are not 1% of the unregistered vehicles.

Road accident fatalities are mainly men (79%) and young adults aged 18 to 44 (54%). However, the impact is not limited to the décès. In 2021, more than 4 million people died in the region, with no more than 638,620 graves with permanent consequences.

Vulnerable users and the challenge of motorcyclists

The relationship between them also disproportionately affects the most vulnerable users. Between 2009 and 2021, the decades of motorcyclists, cyclists and cyclists have increased from 39% to 47% of the total number of road victims. In 2021, motorcyclists represented 27% of décès, piétons 17% and cyclists 3%. This trend contrasts with the low light observed in four-wheel vehicle occupant mortality.

«The safety of motorcyclists is an urgent priority. To reduce this type of accidents, it is essential to improve routine infrastructure, apply stricter laws on the port of the helmet, safety tape and driving under the influence of alcohol, and promote more safe driving practices,» declared Ricardo Pérez. -Núñez, Regional Advisor for Routine Security of PAHO.

Institutional management, urban infrastructure and safer vehicles

The relationship implies the need to strengthen institutional management to improve routine security. Although some pay to make progress in terms of politicians and regulatory staff, there is already another hand of coordination and training in many cases.

As regards infrastructure, if plusieurs pay to improve routes thanks to measures indicating foot protection zones and better signage, additional investments are necessary, particularly in rural areas and regions of the world. accident incidence is high.

As far as the safest vehicles are concerned, the relationship between the advantages of international standards indicates that electronic stability control and airbags. However, the implementation of these norms is insufficient in the country, which limits their impact.

Des utilisateurs plus surs et una response after the accident

The relationship between them is also important to reduce risky behaviors such as excessive drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of portable telephones. Additionally, the call to reinforce the use of safety devices such as helmets and safety belts.

Furthermore, as regards intervention after the accident, although the plusieurs pays aient amélioré l’accès aux services Médicaux et de réadaptation, des disparités persistentes dans les delays d’intervention et la couverture, ce qui nécessite une amélioration de l ‘emergency infrastructure’.

PAHO calls on governments to adopt a comprehensive approach to “safe systems” that includes improving road infrastructure, strengthening the road code and increasing vehicle safety. Furthermore, the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors to solve this public health problem is spiritual.