Toward zero traffic deaths and disabilities with active and passive safety technologies in the association of southeast Asian nations

Road traffic crashes caused more than 108,000 deaths and 6,200,000 injuries resulting in 7.7 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2019. This study estimates that 59 % of these casualties could have been avoided if all vehicles were designed to provide crash protection equivalent to that of the best vehicle safety design in their class and all road users adhered to safety best practices. Results of comparative risk assessments indicate that the application of safety technologies that are considered high priority by the United Nations (anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, occupant restraints, frontal and side airbags, crashworthiness, side-door beam, side structure and padding, and helmets) can save 34,373 lives and avert 2.5 million DALYs annually in ASEAN. While implementing Autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assistance systems would provide additional reductions estimated at 13,077 fewer deaths and 1,021,220 fewer DALYs, speed-limitation systems would have a larger additional benefit, estimated at 21,394 lives saved and 1,382,530 fewer DALYs. The investigated technologies can be among the best approaches toward zero traffic deaths and can elevate public health burdens in low and middle-income countries. • More than 90 % of road traffic deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. • Unsafe vehicle design and reckless driving are the top two reasons for the high traffic death rate. • Vehicle Safety design, user protective technologies, and ADAS features reduced deaths and injuries in high-income countries. • This study investigated the effects of these safety interventions on traffic deaths and disabilities in ASEAN. • The investigated interventions have the potential to prevent 59 % of annual deaths and disabilities in ASEAN.