Road Traffic Injuries
Overview
In India, an estimated 1,75,000 persons died and 8.7 million were injured seriously due to RTIs in 2016. Nearly 70% of these deaths and injuries were in 15–39 years and predominantly among men. Vulnerable road users like pedestrians, two-wheeler riders, and pillions and bicyclists were affected most. Rural India witnessed the highest number of deaths and injuries compared with urban India. The economic losses are estimated to cost 3% GDP every year.
Globally, nearly 1.2 million lives are lost every year due to Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs). Apart from deaths, nearly 40-50 million persons are estimated to be hospitalized with serious injuries while several more seek care from emergency rooms of healthcare institutions. More than three-fourths of these RTIs occur in Low and Middle-Income countries (LMICs) of the world.
A significant amount of disabilities are due to RTIs. The economic losses are estimated to be approximately 2% of gross domestic product in high-income countries and as much as 3–4 % of GDP in some Low and Middle-Income countries (LMICs).
RTIs are predictable and preventable.
The centre works with a number of state and national governments as well as international partners to reduce the growing burden of RTIs for implementing evidence-based interventions.
