In 2021, approximately 1.2 million fatalities resulted from road traffic crashes, marking a 5% decrease from the 1.25 million estimated in 2010. Over half of the Member States of the United Nations witnessed a decline in road traffic fatalities from 2010 to 2021. Despite the global motor vehicle fleet more than doubling, alongside significant expansions in road networks and a population surge of nearly a billion, there was a modest reduction in overall fatalities. This suggests that efforts aimed at enhancing road safety have yielded some success, albeit falling short of meeting the targets set by the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, which aims to halve fatalities by 2030. Road traffic crashes continue to pose a substantial global health and developmental challenge. As of 2019, road traffic crashes emerged as the leading cause of mortality among individuals aged 5 to 29 years, and ranked as the 12th leading cause of death across all age groups.

"Road traffic injuries can be prevented. Governments need to take action to address road safety in a holistic manner. This requires involvement from multiple sectors such as transport, police, health, education, and actions that address the safety of roads, vehicles, and road users."

"Effective interventions include designing safer infrastructure and incorporating road safety features into land-use and transport planning, improving the safety features of vehicles, improving post-crash care for victims of road crashes, setting and enforcing laws relating to key risks, and raising public awareness."