{"id":124673,"date":"2016-05-24T19:30:16","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T17:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=124673"},"modified":"2016-05-25T14:06:43","modified_gmt":"2016-05-25T12:06:43","slug":"how-dangerous-south-africas-roads-are-vs-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/trending\/124673\/how-dangerous-south-africas-roads-are-vs-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"South African road deaths vs the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the latest WHO estimates, around 1.25 million people died from road traffic injuries in 2013, with another 20\u201350 million people sustaining non-fatal injuries as a result of road traffic collisions or crashes.<\/p>\n

Road traffic injuries are the ninth leading cause of death globally, and the leading cause among people age 15\u201329 years. Almost 60% of road traffic deaths occur among people aged 15\u201344 years.<\/p>\n

South Africa has the 42nd highest road mortality rate in the world, with 25.1 road deaths per 100,000 population.<\/p>\n

While this is a relatively high ranking on a global scale, it is evident that it is part of a larger African problem, as the South Africa “only” ranks 34th on the continent.<\/p>\n

By far African nations dominate the list of highest road deaths, though the top spot belongs to Libya, with 73.4 road mortalities per 100,000 people.<\/p>\n

This is followed by Venezuela (45.1 per 100,000) and Thailand (36.2 per 100,000). Malawi has the most dangerous roads in Africa with 35 deaths per 100,000 people.<\/p>\n

“Over 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low-middle income countries, which account for 82% of the world\u2019s population, but only 54% of the world\u2019s registered vehicles,” the WHO said.<\/p>\n

“Several factors are at work, including poor or poorly implemented regulations, inadequate road and vehicle quality, a higher proportion of vulnerable road users and increasing vehicle numbers.”<\/p>\n

The 15 worst countries to drive in<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nRoad deaths (per 100,000)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nLibya<\/td>\n73.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nVenezuela<\/td>\n45.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nThailand<\/td>\n36.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nMalawi<\/td>\n35.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nLiberia<\/td>\n33.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nDRC<\/td>\n33.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nTanzania<\/td>\n32.9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nCAR<\/td>\n32.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nRwanda<\/td>\n32.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nIran<\/td>\n32.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nMozambique<\/td>\n31.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nBurundi<\/td>\n31.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nTogo<\/td>\n31.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nSoa Tome and Principe<\/td>\n31.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nBurkina Faso<\/td>\n30.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
42<\/td>\nSouth Africa<\/td>\n25.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

South African road dangers<\/h3>\n

Despite its relatively low ranking on the continent for road deaths, South Africa has a reputation for having the some of the most dangerous roads in the world.<\/p>\n

Transport related injuries – including road deaths – are one of the 10 biggest killers in the country.<\/p>\n