Benchmarks for the Best, Mid, and Worst traffic fatality reductions in 33 countries from 1970-2024.

OBJECTIVE: A benchmark was determined for traffic fatality reductions since 1970 in 33 countries from 1970-2024. The benchmark defined the Best, Mid, and Worst traffic fatality reductions over 54 years. METHODS: Traffic fatalities in 33 countries were analyzed from 1970-2024. The data came from the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). A fatality ratio was calculated by the number of traffic fatalities each year divided by the 1970 deaths (1970 ratio = 1.00) for each country. The fatality reduction is 1.00 minus the ratio. The ratios and countries were sorted from the lowest to the highest ratios (largest to smallest reductions) by decade giving seven lists of countries and fatality ratios. The benchmark for the Best, Mid, and Worst fatality reductions was determined using the average and standard deviation for the three groups of reductions resulting in generally non-overlapping ratios from 1970-2024. RESULTS: There were 10 countries with the Best fatality reductions since 1970. There were 15 in the Mid, and 8 in the Worst groups. The countries varied in each group from 1970-2024. In 2024, the Best fatality ratios were 0.142 ± 0.017 based on a 1970 reference of 1.00. The Best countries included Slovenia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, Belgium, and Sweden. The Mid fatality ratios were 0.282 ± 0.093. The Worst fatality ratios were 0.816 ± 0.330. The Worst group included Turkey, Israel, Korea, U.S., Greece, Chile, Iceland, and Poland. From 2000-2010, the U.S. moved from the Mid fatality reduction group to the Worst group. In 2024, the U.S. fatality ratio was near the average of the Worst fatality reductions. The U.S. ranked 30th out of 33 countries. CONCLUSIONS: Benchmarks for traffic fatality reductions were determined for the Best, Mid, and Worst fatality reductions (ratios) in 33 countries from 1970-2024. The benchmarks are generally non-overlapping groups of ratios in three tiers of fatality reductions. In 2024, the U.S. was in the Worst group, lagging behind 29 countries in reducing traffic fatalities since 1970.