Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 – The Department of Transportation (DOTR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and road safety partners launched the WHO Global Status Report on Road safety 2023. The WHO report emphasizes that despite notable progress, road safety remains an urgent global issue.
According to the WHO report, the annual number of road traffic deaths fell slightly to 1.19 million per year. Yet with more than 2 deaths occurring per minute and over 3200 per day, road traffic crashes remain the leading cause of mortality among children and youth aged 5–29 years. Pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users are facing an acute and rising risk of death.
“The tragic tally of road crash deaths is heading in the right direction, downwards, but nowhere near fast enough. Road safety is a multisectoral concern. We should continue to work together to keep our road safe,” says Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to the Philippines.
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In the Philippines, an increasing trend of road traffic deaths was seen in the past decade, with road traffic deaths increasing by 39% from 7,938 deaths in 2011 to 11,096 deaths based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Report in 2021. According to this report, at least 84% of road traffic deaths are among males. Road traffic injuries are also a major cause of mortality among children. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are among those considered vulnerable road users. Road traffic injuries are estimated to cost about 2.6% of the country’s gross domestic product.
DOTR Secretary Jaime Bautista emphasized the need for multi-sector efforts, particularly targeting interventions to protect road users, especially children. “The goal is for road safety measures to become an integral component of different policy agendas such as child health, climate action, gender and equality,” Secretary Bautista said.
