The road fatality rate in many countries is shockingly high, yet for road users across the globe, some key changes could be extremely beneficial. Across the world, fatalities from road traffic crashes have long been amongst the top three causes of death for people aged between 5 and 44 years old. This is a burden, both human and economic, that impacts on every single country, and some more than others. However, there are a number of simple steps that would not impinge on transport mobility and yet deliver major reductions in casualty rates. Firstly, driving too fast is a leading cause of road fatalities, according to theFederation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Region I. The FIA's data says that an estimated 40%-50% of people drive over the speed limit and that a 5% reduction in average speed could result in a 30% decrease in number of fatal crashes. How many lives would be saved if drivers simply stuck to posted speed limits?Meanwhile, driving under the influence (whether of alcohol or drugs) remains a major cause of deaths and injuries on the road.
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