Tenth of global road accident fatalities caused by alcohol

Alcohol is behind 10.9% of fatalities in traffic accidents globally, according to a recent analysis from Munich-based insurer Allianz.

The analysis is based on figures from the World Health Organization on road traffic accidents and alcohol.

In eastern Europe and central Asia, 18.2% of road fatalities involved alcohol, followed by Europe at 16.2%, based on Allianz’s analysis. The Americas rate stood at 12.9% while, Africa (8%), Asia Pacific (7.3%) and the Middle East (2.4%) were all below the global average of 10.9%.

“The countries that carry particular weight in their respective regions are Belarus (51.4%), Lithuania (48.2%), Venezuela (47.1%), Namibia (43.2%), Mongolia (20.7%) and the United Arab Emirates (17.7%),” Allianz noted.

“On a global level, every tenth fatal accident can be traced back to alcohol. Men are more likely to expose themselves to this danger, risking their lives with it,” according to Christoph Lauterwasser, head of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT).

In most countries, men were twice as likely as women to be involved in alcohol-related fatal accidents, according to Allianz.

Young people between 21 and 24 are also more frequently involved in drinking and driving accidents, Allianz’s research suggests. “The figures for this age group (18%) are almost double those of the 18-20 (10%) or 25-64 groups (11%),” it noted.

Allianz has suggested that the age in Germany for zero-tolerance of alcohol while behind the wheel be raised to 24, from the current 21.