Excessive speed leads to one-third road traffic deaths: WHO

A new UN report suggests excessive or inappropriate speed contributes to 1 in 3 road traffic fatalities worldwide, said a spokesperson here on Friday.

The report from the World Health Organization (WHO) called "Managing speed" finds that around 1.25 million people die every year as a result of road traffic crashes, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing.

Typically, 40-50% of drivers go over posted speed limits, and speed-related road traffic crashes remain the number one cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years, noted the report.

However, only 47 countries implement an urban speed limit of 50 km per hour or less and reduce limits further on roads around schools, residences, and businesses, it said.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan warned that speed is at the core of the global road traffic injury problem.

"If countries were to address just this key risk, they would soon reap the rewards of safer roads, both in terms of lives saved and increases in walking and cycling, with profound and lasting effects on health," she said. Endit