Data-Driven Strategic Approaches to Road Safety Management: Truth and Lies of Official Statistics

Approximately 1.25–1.30 million people die annually in road traffic accidents worldwide, and up to 50 million are injured. The UN General Assembly Resolution 74/229 emphasizes the utmost importance of addressing the issue of reducing road traffic accidents. Achieving the ambitious goal of reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries by at least 50% during 2021–2030 is associated with numerous challenges, one of which is ensuring the reliability of official statistics. The accuracy of official data in reflecting the actual situation depends on multiple factors: the quality of the data collection and identification system for road accidents, the responsibility of the officials, and, to a significant extent, the willingness and ability of those in charge to present desired outcomes as reality, thereby distorting the relevant statistics. The issue of inaccurate statistical data and its negative impact on subsequent socio-economic management processes has long been recognized. Different countries address this issue with varying degrees of success. Using data on the characteristics of the road traffic accident rate as an example, the problem of statistical data accuracy in Russia and African countries is considered. A comparison of such countries was chosen to illustrate the real problem of the low credibility of official statistical information available for analysis. Unfortunately, the low quality of statistical information does not allow for drawing accurate conclusions about the actual situation in Russia and African countries, and hence, competently and rationally managing socio-economic processes. This conclusion is based both on the analysis of the results of previous studies and on the original statistical analysis of officially available information.