Safer vehicles

Key messages

• Twenty countries reported having seat belt laws, but only 10 of these specify including anchors in vehicles.
• Seven countries have implemented laws addressing frontal and side impacts on vehicles.
• Seven countries have specific laws on electronic stability control (ESC).
• Five countries have laws on anti-lock braking systems (ABS).
• Only two countries have pedestrian protection laws.
• Twenty-two countries have met two indicators of Target 5 of the Global Plan 2021-2030:
• creating safety standards for imported and exported vehicles;
• and implementing laws requiring regular inspections.
• Nine countries have laws determining the regularity of vehicle inspections.
• Ten countries reported that regular inspections must take place at licensed facilities.
• Nine countries have mandatory equipment testing and visual inspection.
• Ten countries reported implementing vehicle purchasing policies or safety requirements for vehicle acquisition.

The safe systems approach aims to ensure safe transport for all road users, recognizing individuals’ vulnerability. One of its fundamental pillars is the use of safe vehicles. Safe vehicles play a crucial role in preventing crashes and reducing serious injuries. Various UN vehicle safety regulations, if implemented into manufacturing and production standards, could save numerous lives. These regulations make it mandatory for vehicle manufacturers to comply with frontal and side impact regulations, integrate electronic stability control, and ensure airbags and seat belts are installed in all vehicles. The risk of injury to both vehicle occupants and pedestrians increases significantly if these basic standards are ignored.

Countries in the Region are also making various efforts to achieve the targets of the Global Plan 2021-2030. These include Target 5, which is for 100% of new (defined as produced, sold or imported) and used vehicles to meet high quality safety standards, such as the recommended priority UN Regulations, Global Technical Regulations, or equivalent recognized national performance requirements. Target 2 calls for countries to accede to one or more of the core road safety-related UN legal instruments (10).

This publication describes countries’ current laws on equipment requirements and standards (e.g., impact protection or seat belts), those focusing on vehicle inspections or assessments, or countries’ progress in terms of achieving the safe vehicle targets of the Global Plan 2021-2030.

The analysis shows that most countries do not have laws on vehicle equipment requirements and standards. Twenty countries have enacted seat belt legislation. However, only 10 of these countries’ regulations specify the need to include seat belt anchors in vehicles. The analysis carried out in 10 countries, outlined in Annex 4 (Estimating the effect of introducing approved safety systems on the burden of road traffic injuries in 10 countries in the Region of the Americas), shows that deaths could be reduced by 12.4% (10.0%-14.7%) if seat belt use were properly enforced. This figure is similar to the study carried out in another six countries in the Region, which estimated that deaths could be reduced by 12.1% (9.1%-15.5%) (11). Although seat belts and anchors are essential to the safety of vehicle occupants, these laws must be supported by effective enforcement measures to have any real impact.

The analysis results show that nine countries have specific laws on frontal impact in vehicles, while eight have laws on side impact in vehicles. Table 7 shows that only seven countries have laws on both frontal and side impact in vehicles. These measures aim to ensure a comprehensive approach to vehicle safety, focusing on multiple aspects of collisions to effectively protect occupants.

Table 7. Number of countries with national vehicle safety laws in the Region of the Americas, by subregion and income level

Note: ^a are indicators for Target 5 of the Global Plan 2021-2030.

Source: Prepared by the authors, based on World Health Organization materials. Global status report on road safety 2023. Geneva: WHO; 2023.

Seven countries have reportedly implemented specific laws on ESC and five countries have laws on ABS. Since ESC technology includes ABS, it is more appropriate to consider them as a set of interrelated technologies. They aim to improve vehicle braking performance, especially in emergency situations, preventing skidding and loss of control, reducing road traffic crashes, and ensuring greater road safety. It is crucial to highlight that, when vehicles are equipped with these technologies, both ABS and ESC not only reduce injuries and deaths among vehicle occupants but also among external users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

Bhalla and Gleason’s study, focusing on six countries in the Region, emphasizes that more widely available ESC and ABS would have the greatest benefit on road safety (11). This improvement could result in a significant 19.4% estimated reduction in the number of deaths in these countries. The Annex 4 analysis suggests that the overall effect of improved vehicle design in the Region could lead to a 28.1% fall in the number of deaths.

The results also show that, in general terms and for the set of countries assessed, ESC systems with built-in ABS are the safety systems with the greatest preventive potential. Figure 26 shows that these systems could prevent approximately 18.5% of deaths. Furthermore, including an automated emergency braking system (AEBS), encompassing both ESC and ABS, could increase this preventive potential to 28.5%.

Figure 26. Reduction in deaths due to implementing electronic stability control, anti-lock braking systems, and automated emergency braking systems (percentage)

ABS: anti-lock braking system; AEBS: automated emergency braking system; ESC: electronic stability control.

Source: Prepared by the authors, based on the working document Estimating the effect of introducing approved safety systems on the burden of road traffic injuries in 10 countries in the Region of the Americas (see Annex 4).

These results confirm the positive and significant impact that safety systems —especially ESC and AEBS— can have on reducing road traffic deaths, both for vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. These results highlight the importance of promoting policies and regulations that require the integration of systems such as ESC and ABS, and more widespread adoption and enforcement of established regulations. Table 8 shows the implementation of safety systems and the estimated number of deaths prevented in 16 countries.

 

Table 8. Estimated number of annual deaths prevented by anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control systems, and automated emergency braking systems, 2019 (percentage)

ABS: anti-lock braking system; AEBS: automated emergency braking system; ESC: electronic stability control; --: data not available.

Note: The standard deviation is shown in parentheses.

Source: Prepared by the authors, based on the working document Estimating the effect of introducing approved safety systems on the burden of road traffic injuries in 10 countries in the Region of the Americas (see Annex 4). Ramos García JA. Evaluación sobre la adhesión de Uruguay al acuerdo de 1958. Montevideo: Movés; 2022.

Table 7 shows that only two countries reported having laws on pedestrian protection. Vehicle safety must be a key priority for the Region. Enacting legislation requiring regular vehicle inspections or assessments would be one effective strategy to achieve this. These laws are not only essential for ensuring road safety, but are also indicators of compliance with the targets of the Global Plan 2021-2030. Twenty-two countries in the Region have implemented national laws on mandatory, regular inspections, thereby meeting one indicator of Target 5 of the Global Plan 2021-2030.

Nine countries have also enacted specific laws on the regularity of these inspections. This enables a more structured and effective approach to ensuring the ongoing safety of vehicles on the road. Ten countries reported that regular inspections must take place at licensed facilities. Nine countries have mandatory inspections that include equipment testing and visual inspection.

Twenty-two countries have met the second indicator for Target 5, relating to safety standards for used vehicle imports and exports. Ten countries reported implementing vehicle purchasing policies or safety requirements for vehicle acquisition. This measure highlights these countries’ commitment to vehicle safety from the moment of acquisition. These achievements represent significant progress towards safer roads in the Region. They also demonstrate the importance placed on vehicle safety as an integral part of road safety strategies.

Adopting UN technical regulations is another way to promote vehicle safety. Box 10 describes a recent national case example.

The United Nations has the following vehicle safety regulations:

• The 1958 Agreement, which focuses on establishing harmonized technical regulations for the certification of new wheeled vehicles and their components. Its aim is to establish performance requirements and technical specifications for vehicles and their parts, facilitating the mutual recognition of approvals between participating countries (12).
• The 1997 Agreement, which regulates periodic technical inspections of used wheeled vehicles, ensuring their proper maintenance and safe operation. Its main aim is to establish uniform conditions, at an international level, for regular technical vehicle inspections and to ensure that vehicles comply with established standards in areas such as emissions, brakes, lights, and other technical aspects (13).
• The 1998 Agreement, which establishes internationally applicable technical standards for wheeled vehicles and their associated equipment and parts. This agreement aims to improve vehicle compatibility and safety, ensuring that equipment and parts meet common technical standards. It aims to achieve global standardization to promote efficiency and safety in the manufacture and use of wheeled vehicles (14). Only two countries in the Region (the United States and Canada) have adopted this agreement.

 

Crucially, the analysis conducted in 10 countries, described in Annex 4, shows that the widespread adoption of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)-regulated systems could significantly reduce deaths. Figure 27 shows that adopting these systems could lead to an estimated 27.9% reduction in deaths, saving approximately 5,653 of the 20,246 annual lives lost, according to the analysis.

 

Figure 27. Estimated reduction in annual deaths by implementing safety systems, by country, Region of the Americas

Source: Working document Estimating the effect of introducing approved safety systems on the burden of road traffic injuries in 10 countries in the Region of the Americas (see Annex 4).

Conclusions

• The UN vehicle safety regulations provide a comprehensive framework for improving road safety. Implementing regulations on frontal and side impacts, electronic stability control, airbags, and seat belts is essential to reducing the risk of injury to both vehicle occupants and pedestrians.
• Despite the efforts of some countries in the Region to meet the targets of the Global Plan 2021-2030, the analysis reveals that many still need laws establishing requirements and standards for vehicle equipment.
• The lack of specific laws on frontal and side impacts on vehicles reflects the need for an increased focus on vehicle safety in the Region. Comprehensive measures protecting vehicle occupants and promoting road safety must be adopted.
• Implementing vehicle safety systems, such as ESC and ABS, has the potential to significantly reduce road traffic deaths. Promoting policies and regulations requiring the integration of these systems is essential to improving road safety.
• Regular vehicle inspections are an effective way to ensure the ongoing safety of vehicles on the road. Countries with specific laws on this issue demonstrate a strong commitment to road safety and meeting the targets of the Global Plan 2021-2030.
• Promoting UN technical regulations, such as the 1958 Agreement, the 1997 Agreement, and the 1998 Agreement, is essential to improving international vehicle safety and compatibility. Adopting these agreements could have a significant impact on reducing road traffic deaths in the Region.
• Countries in the Region must work together to strengthen their vehicle safety policies and regulations. International collaboration and exchanging good practice are the key to achieving a safer road environment and protecting the lives of all road users.