Global Road Safety Publications and Resources

Featured articles

Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths — United States and 28 Other High-Income Countries, 2015 and 2019

New CDC research finds that the United States (U.S.) had higher rates of motor vehicle crash deaths than most other high-income countries in 2019 and lagged behind these other countries in saving lives on the road. For example, the U.S. had the highest population-based death rate (11.1 per 100,000 population). The U.S. rate was 2.3 times higher than the average rate for 28 other high-income countries (4.8 per 100,000 population). In addition, the number of crash deaths in the U.S. further increased in 2020 and 2021.

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Graphic illustrating car crash death rates in high-income countries.

The U.S. could save more than 20,500 lives and about $280.5 million in annual medical costs (in 2019 USD) if we could reduce the population-based crash death rate to match the average rate of 28 other high-income countries in 2019. The U.S. can re-double efforts to implement proven strategies to save lives on the road and can broadly implement the Safe System approach to reduce motor vehicle crash deaths and injuries in our nation.

• Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths — United States and 28 Other High-Income Countries, 2015 and 2019.

Traffic Conflict Technique Toolkit — Making the Journey to and from School Safer for Students

Traffic Conflict Techniques (TCTs) are simple methods of collecting observational data to evaluate the effectiveness of road safety interventions. CDC and the CDC Foundation collaborated with global road safety partners to develop a TCT Toolkit, which serves as a guide for applying different TCT methods and collecting traffic conflict data. The toolkit was piloted in three school zones in low- and middle-income countries (Ghana, Vietnam, and Mexico) to collect data and analyze pedestrian-vehicle traffic conflicts. Results showed there was a decrease in road traffic conflicts from before implementation to after implementation in all three countries, providing evidence that the road safety interventions were effective. TCTs are relatively low cost, simple, and can help decisionmakers evaluate and prioritize strategies for improving road safety with real-world data.

• Traffic Conflict Technique Toolkit — Making the Journey to and from School Safer for Students.
• Traffic Conflict Technique (TCT) Toolkit pilot article.

Morbidity and mortality weekly report

• Yellman MA, Sauber-Schatz EK. Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths — United States and 28 Other High-Income Countries, 2015 and 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71(26):837–843. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7126a1

• Sauber-Schatz EK, Ederer DJ, Dellinger AM, Baldwin GT. Vital Signs: Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention — United States and 19 Comparison Countries. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(26):672–677. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6526e1

• You can also check out this interactive data visualization chart created by the National Safety Council which displays data from the CDC Feature Publication.

Additional CDC resources

• Swanson JM, Roehler DR, Sauber-Schatz EK. (2020). Traffic Conflict Technique Toolkit: Making the Journey to and from School Safer for Students. CDC Foundation and FIA Foundation.

• Sauber-Schatz EK, Parker EM, Sleet DA, Ballesteros MF. CDC Health Information for International Travel (Yellow Book 2020). Chapter 8 – Travel by Air, Land & Sea – Road & Traffic Safety. 2020 Edition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Parker EM, Sauber-Schatz EK, Sleet DA, Ballesteros MF. CDC Health Information for International Travel (Yellow Book 2020). Chapter 3 – Environmental Hazards & Other Noninfectious Health Risks – Injury & Trauma. 2020 Edition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

World Health Organization (WHO) road safety technical manuals and other resources supported by CDC

• Global Status Reports on Road Safety
  • CDC has served as the U.S. data coordinator for all WHO Global Status Reports on Road Safety (2009, 2013, 2015, and 2018).
• Save LIVES: A Road Safety Technical Package
• World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention
• Data Systems – A Road Safety Manual for Decision-Makers and Practitioners
• Make Walking Safe: A Brief Overview of Pedestrian Safety Around the World
• Mobile Phone Use: A Growing Problem of Driver Distraction

Journal articles

• Swanson JM, Draisin N, Krasnolucka A, Vadillo C, Medina S, Pérez B, Kalolo S, Quyen BNT, Minh VN, Sauber-Schatz E. Observing pedestrian-vehicle traffic conflicts in school zones to evaluate the effectiveness of road safety interventions and reduce injuries in Ghana, Vietnam, and Mexico, 2019-2021. J Inj Violence Res. 2022;14(3):145–152. doi:10.5249/jivr.v14i3.1710

• Nittayasoot N, Peterson AB, Thammawijaya P, Parker EM, Sathawornwiwat A, Boonthanapat N, Chantian T, Voradetwitaya L, Jiraphongsa C, Sagarasaeranee O, Sansilapin C, Rattanathamsakul T, Ketgudee L, Tantiworrawit P. Evaluation of a hospital-based injury surveillance system for monitoring road traffic deaths in Phuket, Thailand. Traffic Inj Prev. 2019;20(4):365–371. doi:10.1080/15389588.2019.1581924

• Nhan LDT, Parker L, Son MTH, Parker EM, Moore MR, Sidik M, Draisin N. Evaluation of an integrated multisector campaign to increase child helmet use in Vietnam. Inj Prev. 2019;25(3):206–210. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042517

• Sleet DA. The Global Challenge of Child Injury Prevention. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(9):1921. doi:10.3390/ijerph15091921

• Franklin RC, Sleet DA. Injury prevention and health promotion: A global perspective. Health Promot J Austr. 2018;29(2):113–116. doi:10.1002/hpja.191

• Mack K, Clapperton A, Macpherson A, Sleet D, Newton D, Murdoch J, Mackay JM, Berecki-Gisolf J, Wilkins N, Marr A, Ballesteros M, McClure R. Trends in the leading causes of injury mortality, Australia, Canada and the United States, 2000–2014. Can J Public Health. 2017;108(2):e185–e191. doi:10.17269/cjph.108.5695

• Ha NT, Ederer D, Vo VAH, Pham AV, Mounts A, Nolen LD, Sugerman D. Changes in motorcycle-related injuries and deaths after mandatory motorcycle helmet law in a district of Vietnam. Traffic Inj Prev. 2018;19(1):75–80. doi:10.1080/15389588.2017.1322203

• Xiao D, Pengpeng Y, Yichong L, Leilei D, Limin W, Shults RA, Roehler DR, Yee SL. Prevalence of drink-driving among adults in China: A nationally representative survey in 2010. Traffic Inj Prev. 2017;18(8):795–800. doi:10.1080/15389588.2016.1161760

• Craft G, Van Bui T, Sidik M, Moore D, Ederer DJ, Parker EM, Ballesteros MF, Sleet DA. A Comprehensive Approach to Motorcycle-Related Head Injury Prevention: Experiences from the Field in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Uganda. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017;14(12):1486. doi:10.3390/ijerph14121486

• Ederer DJ, Bui TV, Parker EM, Roehler DR, Sidik M, Florian MJ, Kim P, Sim S, Ballesteros MF. Helmets for Kids: evaluation of a school-based helmet intervention in Cambodia. Inj Prev. 2016;22(1):52–58. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2014-041434

• Roehler DR, Ear C, Parker EM, Sem P, Ballesteros MF. Fatal motorcycle crashes: a growing public health problem in Cambodia. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2015;22(2):165–171. doi:10.1080/17457300.2013.876050

• Parker EM, Ear C, Roehler DR, Sann S, Sem P, Ballesteros MF. Surveillance of Road Crash Injuries in Cambodia: An Evaluation of the Cambodia Road Crash and Victim Information System (RCVIS). Traffic Inj Prev. 2014;15(5):477–482. doi:10.1080/15389588.2013.836597

• Sebego M, Naumann RB, Rudd RA, Voetsch K, Dellinger AM, Ndlovu C. The impact of alcohol and road traffic policies on crash rates in Botswana, 2004–2011: A time-series analysis. Accid Anal Prev. 2014;70:33–39. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2014.02.017

• Roehler DR, Naumann RB, Mutatina B, Nakitto M, Mwanje B, Brondum L, Blanchard C, Baldwin GT, Dellinger AM. Using baseline and formative evaluation data to inform the Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative. Glob Health Promot. 2013;20(4 Suppl):37–44. doi:10.1177/1757975913509657

• Bachani AM, Branching C, Ear C, Roehler DR, Parker EM, Tum S, Ballesteros MF, Hyder AA. Trends in prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of helmet use in Cambodia: results from a two year study. Injury. 2013;44(Suppl 4):S31–S37. doi:10.1016/S0020-1383(13)70210-9

• Roehler DR, Sann S, Kim P, Bachani AM, Campostrini S, Florian M, Sidik M, Blanchard C, Sleet DA, Hyder AA, Ballesteros MF. Motorcycle helmet attitudes, behaviours and beliefs among Cambodians. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2013;20(2):179–183. doi:10.1080/17457300.2012.759594

• Bachani AM, Tran NT, Sann S, Ballesteros MF, Gnim C, Ou A, Sem P, Nie X, Hyder AA. Helmet Use Among Motorcyclists in Cambodia: A Survey of Use, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices. Traffic Inj Prev. 2012;13(Suppl 1):31–36. doi:10.1080/15389588.2011.630763

• Mahendra RR, Roehler DR, Degutis LC. NCIPC's contribution to global injury and violence prevention: past, present, and future. J Safety Res. 2012;43(4):271–277. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2012.08.006

• Rojas Medina Y, Espitia-Hardeman V, Dellinger AM, Loayza M, Leiva R, Cisneros G. A road traffic injury surveillance system using combined data sources in Peru. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2011;29(3):191–197.

• Espitia-Hardeman V, Borse NN, Dellinger AM, Betancourt CE, Villareal AN, Caicedo LD, Portillo C. The burden of childhood injuries and evidence based strategies developed using the injury surveillance system in Pasto, Colombia. Inj Prev. 2011;17 Suppl 1:i38–i44. doi:10.1136/ip.2009.026112