The ATO road safety profiles offer insights into the road safety in 28 Asia-Pacific countries by utilizing road safety related data from various sources and policy information extracted from a range of documents.

The profiles were created by the Asian Transport Observatory —in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory (APRSO), and the International Road Federation (IRF)— as an input to global discussions on road safety, in time for the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Morocco.

Road safety in Azerbaijan presents a complex and concerning picture. While progress has been made in reducing fatalities over the past decade, the country still faces significant challenges in achieving substantial and sustainable improvements. In 2021, it was estimated that road crashes were responsible for approximately 2,000 fatalities, and injuries from these crashes accounted for 0.6% of all deaths in Azerbaijan. These numbers highlight the ongoing human cost of road traffic incidents and underscore the urgent need for continued and intensified road safety interventions.

A notable discrepancy exists between road crash fatality data reported by different sources. Country statistics for 2023 report around 800 fatalities, while the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates about 2,000 deaths for the same year. This inconsistency makes it difficult to accurately assess the true scale of the problem and monitor the effectiveness of road safety measures. Addressing these discrepancies through improved data collection and harmonization is crucial for informed policy-making. Delving deeper into the available data reveals essential insights into the patterns and demographics of road crash fatalities.

The share of females in road crash fatalities remained stagnant at 23% between 2010 and 2021, mirroring the Asia-Pacific average. The combined share of minors (<14 years old) and seniors (>65 years old) in fatalities decreased slightly from 26% to 25% between 2015 and 2019, while the Asia-Pacific average saw a marginal increase in this demographic. Particularly concerning is the high proportion of pedestrian fatalities, which stood at 43% in 2021, according to the WHO, significantly higher than the Asia-Pacific average of 31%. This suggests a need for improved pedestrian safety measures, such as dedicated crossings, traffic calming measures, and public awareness campaigns.

The economic impact of road crashes in Azerbaijan is substantial. In 2021, the combined cost of fatalities and serious injuries was estimated at 3 billion USD, representing approximately 5% of the country's GDP. This is slightly higher than the healthcare expenditure for that year, which amounted to 4.7% of GDP.

Furthermore, road crashes constitute about 32% of the total implicit costs due to fossil fuel subsidies in transport, highlighting the intertwined nature of road safety, public health, and environmental sustainability. IRAP estimates that an annual investment of 88 million USD, just 0.2% of Azerbaijan's GDP, could potentially prevent 600 fatalities annually, demonstrating a significant return on investment in road safety.

Azerbaijan had about 23 fatalities per thousand kilometers of road. Data on road crash ratings in Azerbaijan is limited, making it difficult to assess the safety standards of the road infrastructure. Understanding road infrastructure safety is critical for targeted improvements and reducing road crashes.

Azerbaijan has seen a significant increase in motorization, with 159.4 vehicles per thousand population by 2022. The vehicle fleet is predominantly composed of light-duty vehicles (86%), with trucks accounting for 10%, buses 2%, other vehicles 2%, and 2-wheelers for 0%. This high level of motorization, coupled with the composition of the vehicle fleet, may contribute to the high fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles.

Comparing Azerbaijan's road safety performance with regional averages reveals areas where the country lags behind. The WHO reports that the road traffic crash fatality rate in Azerbaijan was 17.2 per 100,000 population in 2021, exceeding the Asia-Pacific average of 15.2 and the Central and West Asia average of 13.1. While Azerbaijan has seen a 29% decrease in fatalities per 100,000 population since 2010, this decline is steeper than the improvements seen in the broader Asia-Pacific region (-19%) and Central and West Asia (-12%). While the reduction in fatalities per 100,000 population is commendable, the higher-than-average fatality rate indicates a need for targeted interventions.

The country recorded about 113 fatalities per 100 thousand registered vehicles.

• Urgent action needed to reduce road fatalities The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 aims to cut road fatalities in half by 2030. An annual reduction of at least 7.4% is necessary to achieve this.
• Asia-Pacific region falling behind Despite reaching a peak in road crash fatalities, the Asia-Pacific region is not on track to meet the 2030 goal. The average annual reduction in deaths between 2016 and 2021 was only 0.6%, far below the required rate.
• Varying progress across Asia Using the 2016-2021 road crash fatality growth rate as a basis for estimates until 2030:
  • Only 3 Asian countries are projected to achieve the 50% reduction target by 2030.
  • 18 Asian countries are expected to reduce fatalities by at least 25%.
  • Worryingly, 7 Asian countries will continue to increase road fatalities, moving further away from the target.
• In Azerbaijan, road crash fatalities decreased by approximately -3.3% per year between 2016 and 2021. However, this is not enough to reach the 2030 target to halve the fatalities by 2030

Azerbaijan's road safety strategy, outlined in the "State Program of Azerbaijan Republic on Road Safety for 2019-2023," published in 2019, demonstrates a commitment to addressing the issue. Other relevant policy documents include the Transport Sector Development Strategy, the Fourth National Communication, the Updated Nationally Determined Contribution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Second Biennial Update Report of the Republic of Azerbaijan. These documents suggest a multi-faceted approach to road safety, encompassing infrastructure improvements, vehicle safety standards, and public awareness campaigns. However, the absence of specific road safety targets within these documents is a critical gap that must be addressed to ensure accountability and progress toward measurable goals.

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