The World Health Organisation ,WHO, has reported an increase in the proportion of cyclists killed in road traffic accidents around the world.
The organisation said that even as the total figure for all road deaths is falling. While the number of road traffic fatalities per 1,000 people fell by 16 per cent between 2010 and 2021, the proportion of cyclists among road deaths worldwide rose from 5 per cent to 6 per cent.
The WHO report in Geneva on Wednesday stated that, every day around 3,200 people are killed worldwide in road traffic. According to estimates, 1.19 million people died in 2021. Road accidents are the most common cause of death among children and young people up to the age of 29, the WHO’s Etienne Krug said in Geneva.
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A total of 30 per cent of the fatalities were travelling in cars,while 70 per cent were pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders and other road users. Only 0.2 per cent of the world’s roads have dedicated lanes for bicycles.
WHO which promotes healthy exercise such as walking or cycling, appealed to governments and local authorities to ensure safe cycle paths.
Krug picked out Denmark and the Netherlands as exemplary countries as cycling is made safe there with paths that separate cyclists from road traffic. Speed limits are also important to protect cyclists and other road users.
Krug advised that cyclists should always wear helmets, they should also ride carefully and make themselves clearly visible with lights on their bikes and suitable clothing.
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