So what causes the most deaths of Americans travelling abroad? ……………Crime? Terrorism? Disease?
Corporate employers, including energy giant Chevron, are teaming with safety advocates to combat what they view as a rapidly worsening epidemic of highway deaths and injuries, particularly in developing countries, says USAToday.
“The road-safety problem worldwide for travelers and locals constitutes a growing public health crisis,” said Tony Bliss, lead road safety specialist for the World Bank, adding, “It’s a far greater problem than many more widely acknowledged diseases.”
Much of the growth in motor vehicle usage is in developing countries, where roads are sub-standard, signage deficient, traffic regulations lax and enforcement spotty.
Travelers can be particularly vulnerable because of their lack of familiarity with surroundings and with local customs.
The World Health Organization and the World Bank estimated in a 2004 joint report that 1.2 million people are killed each year in traffic crashes and 20 million to 50 million are injured or disabled, with about 85% of the deaths in low and middle income countries.
Over the 30-year period ending in 2020, the report predicts an 80% increase in fatalities in low and middle income countries versus a 30% decline in high income countries, including the USA.
Report by David Wilkening
John Alwyn-Jones
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.































Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026
Vietnam warns airlines of possible flight reductions amid jet fuel shortages
Fliggy opens AI-powered travel bookings and developer tools