Fatal accident index: SA ranked as worst drivers in the world
South Africa was ranked as the country with the most fatal accidents in the world in an analysis by an Australian insurance company. The analysis looked at car crash statistics from 20 countries – the findings show that men are significantly more at risk across the world. SOUTH AFRICA RECORDS LARGEST DISPARITY IN MORTALITY RATES […]
South Africa was ranked as the country with the most fatal accidents in the world in an analysis by an Australian insurance company. The analysis looked at car crash statistics from 20 countries – the findings show that men are significantly more at risk across the world.
SOUTH AFRICA RECORDS LARGEST DISPARITY IN MORTALITY RATES
South Africa is ranked last for both categories, with 34.9 fatalities per 100 000 for men, and 9.9 fatalities per 100 000 for women.
The insurance company, Compare the Market Australia, said South Africa has the largest gender gap in mortality rate and said the disparity could be because fewer women are drivers in South Africa.
BRAZIL AND UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTED AS HIGH-RISK COUNTRIES
“Brazil has the second worst rate of fatal road accidents for males at 26.9 per 100,000 people. This could be down to some unkept roads, with the potential of large potholes, mud pits, and roads at risk of flooding.3 Although, this is a drastically different story for women (5.6),” said the company.
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The United States is the place where women are second-most likely to get into a fatal car crash, with the figure sitting at 9.9 fatalities per 100 000.
The United Kingdom (UK) has the lowest road mortality rate at 4.8 per 100 00 for men and 1.6 per 100 000 for women.
“With a national speed limit of 70 miles per hour which goes down to 30 in built-up areas,1 this could explain why, regardless of gender, British drivers are some of the safest in the world,” said Compare the Market Australia.
According to the Department of Transport, 1451 people died in accidents during the 2022/2023 festive period. The fatalities took place between 1 December 2022 and 11 January 2023. During the same period the year before, 1685 people died on South African roads.
