Which country has the highest rate of road accidents?
The Dominican Republic has the highest road fatality rate in the world, with nearly 67 deaths per 100,000 people.
This figure makes it one of the most dangerous places on Earth for road users.
But high road accident rates mean different things depending on how you measure them. While the Dominican Republic leads in terms of fatalities per capita, the United States records the most road accidents overall, with nearly two million crashes annually. That’s not because it’s more dangerous per se—it’s a result of massive vehicle ownership, road usage, and population scale.
For UK readers, these distinctions matter. The Dominican Republic’s grim statistic isn’t just a number—it reflects deeper issues: poor enforcement, chaotic traffic, and a lack of emergency response infrastructure. Meanwhile, the US figure highlights how a high number of collisions doesn’t necessarily equate to the highest personal risk.
The UK, by comparison, sits at the opposite end of the spectrum—low fatality rate, high compliance, strong infrastructure. Understanding why that is helps put the global picture into focus. This article explores which countries have the most road deaths, what drives the differences, and how the UK measures up on a world stage.
What are the global road safety figures?
Every year, around 1.19 million people are killed in road traffic accidents worldwide.
A further 20 to 50 million suffer non-fatal injuries—many with lasting disabilities or life-altering consequences.
That’s not just a public health concern—it’s one of the leading causes of death globally, particularly among young people aged 5 to 29. The World Health Organization (WHO) tracks road traffic injuries alongside diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, because in many low- and middle-income countries, road trauma is just as deadly.
When comparing road safety globally, the average worldwide road fatality rate is 17.4 per 100,000 people. But this average masks huge disparities:
- Low-income countries face an average fatality rate of 24.1 deaths per 100,000, despite having fewer vehicles per capita.
- High-income countries, like the UK and Norway, report rates as low as 2.4 to 1.5 per 100,000—more than ten times safer.
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What explains the gap? Infrastructure, enforcement, public health capacity, and policy. A safe road system isn’t just about how people drive—it’s about how well the entire system protects them when things go wrong.
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Get QuotesWhich countries have the highest road fatality rates?
The Dominican Republic currently has the highest road fatality rate in the world, with nearly 67 deaths per 100,000 people.
That means for every 100,000 residents, 67 will die each year in road-related incidents—a rate more than 25 times higher than in the UK.
Several other countries also record extreme fatality levels:
| Country | Road Deaths per 100,000 People | Total Road Deaths (2023/24) |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | 67 | N/A |
| Mozambique | 45.9 | 6,451 |
| Cape Verde | 42.4 | N/A |
| North Korea | 37.0 | 4,645 |
| Libya | 34.0 | N/A |
| Haiti | 31.3 | N/A |
In these regions, poor road infrastructure, limited enforcement, and underfunded healthcare systems all contribute to the danger. Crashes that would be survivable in other countries often turn fatal due to delays in emergency response or lack of trauma care.
These rates paint a sobering picture: in many parts of the world, simply getting in a car carries a risk far higher than most people realise.
Which countries have the most road accidents overall?
The United States records the highest number of road accidents globally, with nearly 2 million crashes annually.
But this doesn’t mean it’s the most dangerous country per driver—context matters.
High accident totals are often linked to:
- Large population size
- High levels of vehicle ownership
- Widespread road networks
That’s why countries like the US, Japan (540,000 accidents), Germany (300,143), and the UK (123,212) rank highly in terms of sheer numbers—but not necessarily in deaths per capita.
To illustrate the point:
- The US fatality rate is estimated at 5.6 per 100,000 people
- The UK comes in at just 2.4 per 100,000, despite having over 120,000 accidents reported annually
So while the numbers might sound alarming, they don’t tell the whole story. The true danger lies not in how many crashes happen—but how often those crashes end lives. That’s where high-income countries tend to outperform: better emergency care, safer vehicles, and stricter rules make a major difference in outcomes.
What causes high accident rates in certain countries?
High road fatality rates are usually caused by a combination of poor infrastructure, weak law enforcement, and limited access to emergency care.
But underneath those issues lies a common theme: systems that fail to protect people when mistakes happen.
In countries like the Dominican Republic, Mozambique, or North Korea, several recurring risk factors emerge:
- Poor road conditions: potholes, lack of signage, unlit roads, and informal traffic flow all increase the chance of collisions
- Inconsistent traffic enforcement: even where laws exist, they’re often unenforced—speeding, drunk driving, and seatbelt non-use go unchecked
- Low vehicle safety standards: many cars lack airbags, ABS, or crash protection features that are standard in wealthier countries
- Limited emergency response: in many areas, it can take hours for injured passengers to receive hospital treatment—if they receive it at all
Cultural norms can also contribute. In some regions, wearing seatbelts is rare, drink-driving is socially tolerated, and pedestrian safety is an afterthought. Education around road use—whether for drivers, cyclists, or walkers—is minimal.
In contrast, the UK doesn’t just have stricter laws—it enforces them, builds safer roads, and provides a rapid emergency response. That infrastructure of protection is what lowers both accident frequency and the severity of outcomes.
How does the UK compare in terms of road safety?
The UK is one of the safest countries in the world for road users, with a road fatality rate of just 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people.
This safer environment, paired with access to comprehensive car insurance in the UK, offers drivers additional peace of mind should an accident occur.
In Europe, only Norway ranks consistently lower.
In 2023, the UK recorded 1,695 road deaths—a figure that’s remained relatively stable despite an increase in overall traffic volume. That puts the UK among the global leaders in road safety, not just because of its legal system, but because of how multiple factors work together:
- Strict traffic law enforcement: speed cameras, drink-driving penalties, and roadside testing all act as deterrents
- Vehicle safety standards: MOTs ensure older vehicles stay roadworthy, and new models must meet high crash safety standards
- Driver education and licensing: the UK driving test is one of the most rigorous in the world, with a strong focus on hazard perception
- Public health and emergency response: quick ambulance dispatch times and well-equipped hospitals improve survival outcomes after crashes
The result? Even though the UK has over 120,000 reported road accidents annually, very few turn fatal—and when they do, those incidents are often reviewed to help prevent similar ones in future.
In a global context, the UK doesn’t just rank well. It sets the benchmark.
What is being done globally to reduce road accidents?
The United Nations and World Health Organization are leading global efforts to cut road deaths in half by 2030.
But progress varies widely between countries.
The UN’s “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030” is the most ambitious campaign yet. It aims to prevent at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by improving road design, legislation, vehicle standards, and post-crash response—especially in low- and middle-income countries where the risk is highest.
WHO supports this work with global status reports, technical advice, and funding for specific interventions—like safer pedestrian crossings, helmet campaigns, or training for emergency services. Some regions have launched innovative local responses:
- Rwanda introduced motorcycle taxi training and enforced helmet laws
- Vietnam cut school-zone fatalities through infrastructure upgrades
- Sweden has long led the “Vision Zero” approach, designing road systems where no fatality is considered acceptable
But in many countries, especially those with the highest death rates, resources remain stretched. Roads are poorly maintained, data is limited, and political will is often inconsistent.
Reducing global road deaths isn’t about one solution—it’s about every country doing more to protect its road users, especially the most vulnerable.
Final thoughts
Where you live can dramatically affect how safe you are on the road.
In places like the Dominican Republic, stepping into traffic carries risks that most UK drivers will never face. And while the global gap in road safety is closing in some regions, in others it’s getting worse. The numbers are stark—but they aren’t just statistics. They represent everyday journeys that ended in tragedy.
The UK’s position among the world’s safest countries isn’t an accident. It’s the result of systems built to protect—from legislation and road design to medical response and public awareness. That safety is easy to take for granted—until you realise how rare it is.
There’s still work to do, even here. But globally, the challenge is even greater. Better laws, smarter infrastructure, and access to trauma care can save lives—but only if the will exists to make them happen.
Understanding the problem is a start. Comparing systems is the next step. Improving them—for everyone—is where it really counts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Dominican Republic has the highest rate, with nearly 67 road deaths per 100,000 people annually.
A lack of traffic enforcement, poor road conditions, and widespread non-compliance with road laws contribute to its high fatality rate.
The United States records the most, with nearly two million car accidents each year.
The UK is among the safest countries, with just 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people—ranking third lowest in Europe.
Common factors include poor infrastructure, weak law enforcement, low vehicle safety, and limited access to emergency care.
Approximately 1.19 million people die in road crashes annually, according to WHO estimates.
Norway has one of the lowest road death rates, with 1.5 deaths per 100,000 people, due to high standards in road design and vehicle safety.
Initiatives like the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety aim to cut deaths by 50% through better legislation, safer roads, and public education.