WHO: Road deaths down 21% globally since 2011, but 1.1 million still die each year

"Over the past 15 years, we have made real progress in reducing road deaths, despite a sharp increase in the number of vehicles and major changes in how people move," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement.

At the same time, the number of deaths remains high. Last year, 1.1 million people died in traffic accidents, and traffic accidents are still the most common cause of death for children and young people between the ages of 5 and 29 globally.

There are also big differences around the world. While road deaths have decreased by 36 percent in Europe, they have increased by 17 percent in Africa.