U.N. takes aim at fatalities on highways

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They say death doesn't discriminate, but when it comes to road accidents, the evidence indicates otherwise.

Some people are much more likely to be killed, injured or disabled for life by traffic accidents, depending on their age, sex, economic status and home country, the United Nations and the World Health Organization say in a report.

"Road traffic injuries involve issues of equity," said the report, which was based on information from the year 2000 gathered in countries all over the world.

Age and sex are determining factors. Young adults are affected disproportionately, with traffic injuries among their leading causes of death. About 60 percent of those killed in motor vehicle accidents around the world are between 15 and 44 years old.

Worldwide, the traffic mortality among men is nearly three times as high as it is for women, especially in places like China and India.

"In many countries, men drink more alcohol and have more access to cars. ... They also tend to take more risks [while] driving," said Etienne Krug, director of the U.N. Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention.

Street use also is a factor. In developing countries, most traffic victims are pedestrians, cyclists, children, users of public transportation or others not inside cars.

In developed countries, the victims tend to be automobile drivers and passengers. Children of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to die on the roads than those of more affluent parents.

"A further inequality issue is that poorer socioeconomic groups have less access to medical services, leading to disparities in chances of recovery or survival," said the U.N.-WHO document.