Top 10 Car Accident-Prone Countries

The world’s first death due to a car accident took place on 31 August 1869. The fatality was a female scientist, and the car that was being driven was a steam car, which probably didn’t reach speeds greater than 5 miles an hour! Since then, thousands of people have lost their lives on the road.

Every country in the world has its own car accident statistics. Populated city areas see more accidents in a year than rural areas do. Here’s a list of the top 10 most car accident-prone countries in the world, listed the least to the most accident-prone.

10. Germany

Germany sees as many as 64.8 deaths out of every million. The total population is 82 million people. Germany experiences 336,000 crashes every year, resulting in 34000 injuries. The German Federal Highway Research Institute publishes this data. Annual fatalities are 5,360 people each year.

9. France

With 62 million people living within its shores, France holds place as the 21st most populated country in the world. However, out of these millions, 87.9 people out of every million lose their lives after car accidents on France’s high-speed highways and charming old roads.

This country of culture and romance also sees many temperamental and haphazard driving styles, which cause a great deal of mayhem on occasion. If a person dies within 30 days of being in a car accident, the death is included in the car accident fatalities list.

8. New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the least populated countries in the world, with just 4.4 million people inhabiting this beautifully preserved ecosystem. However, having fewer people to inhabit it has not reduced the risk of death on New Zealand’s roads.

Even though New Zealand has relatively safe roads, every year still sees 400 fatal accidents. This works out to 9 people killed for every 100,000 residents. Going by accident statistics and surveys, it’s noted that drunken drivers cause 25% of the car accidents.

7. Austria

Austria, with 82 million people in it, has to resign itself to handing over 93.8 people for a million to death, every year, owing to car-accident related fatalities. In 2010, the number of people injured due to car accidents was 35 348, while 552 lost their lives. Since 2001, there’s been a marked reduction of car accident victims who were injured (reduced by 18%), while the fatalities went down by 42%. Of road accident victims, 84% belonged to the age group of 15 to 24 years.

6. Ireland

In Ireland, 96.2 people are killed for every million residents owing to car accidents. Ireland has only 4.1 million inhabitants. A recent survey gives us the belief that Irish drivers are more conscious of safety than drivers from other European countries. However, if this were true, there would be fewer crashes in Ireland. The death quota that Ireland demonstrates does not indicate any safety consciousness among its drivers.

5. Canada

Canada holds the 10th position in the most car accident-prone country list, with 9.6 deaths for every 100,000 people. However, considering Canada’s population is a whopping 34 million people, it’s 96 deaths to a million lives. Most of the car accidents that occur in Canada happen during winter, when the roads are icy and unpredictable. Even safe drivers find their cars skidding and crashing into barriers.

4. Italy

Italy, the land of culture, gourmet food, fashion and unsurpassed beauty actually sees 98 deaths for every million residents due to car accidents. Italians are known to be rash drivers. With 60 million people living here, Italy holds the position of the 23rd most populated country in the world.

Italy makes some of the most glamorous sports cars in the world, known for their style and speed. The Ferrari, the Maserati and the Lamborghini are a few of this country’s offerings to speed enthusiasts. Italians love their cars as much as they love their food; it’s no wonder that the accident rate is also high in this country.

3. Australia

In Australia, 10 out of every 100,000 people meet their deaths on the roads while driving their automobiles. Home to 22 million souls, Australia is the 50th most populated country in the world. To lose a 100 people out of every million lives to car accident fatalities is a matter of horror for a large country with only 22 million people in it. The Australian Road and Traffic Authority (RTA) indicated that about 40% of road deaths owing to car accidents are because of speeding drivers.

2. Belgium

Belgium, with a population of 10.4 million, sees 104.5 people killed per million due to car accidents. Densely populated, Belgium’s roads are known for its aggressive drivers. This European country sees about 70,000 deaths and injuries related to motor vehicle accidents. Roughly, it’s about 15.4 deaths for every 100,000 people.

1. United States

The United States has the distinction of being the most developed country in the world, and the third most populated. More than 311 million people call this country home. As far as car related accidents, injuries and fatalities go, no other country can hold a candle to the US.

Over 10 million motor-vehicle related accidents happen here every year. Motor vehicle accidents are considered the sixth leading preventable reason for death in the US. Close to 5.25 million car accidents happen in the US every year, with over 50,000 people dying every year.

Teena Celis works for Adrenalin that provides a wide range of water, flying and driving experiences all across Australia.