Background One of the most cost-effective measures to prevent road traffic deaths is to enforce the vehicle safety standards recommended by the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations and related UN conventions. In Mexico, new, improved vehicle safety standards were approved in 2022. However, they did not include front/end vehicle designs for pedestrian protection and advanced driver assistance features for collision avoidance, such as the autonomous emergency braking system (AEBS). These features are critical, considering that approximately 63% of road traffic deaths involve vulnerable road users (i.e., pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists). A lack of robust country-specific evidence on the cost-effectiveness and potential public health impact of full implementation of vehicle safety standards has limited local road safety advocacy efforts.

Objective This study aims to estimate the potential public health and economic impact of increasing the availability of proven vehicle safety technologies in Mexico.

Methods This study applied a comparative risk assessment approach. First, we estimated road traffic deaths and injuries in Mexico in 2019 to calculate the Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost and the overall economic burden of traffic-related mortality and morbidity. Second, we searched the literature to obtain the expected relative reductions in deaths and injuries associated with anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), seatbelts, frontal and side airbags, side structure and padding, child restraint systems, crashworthiness, motorcycle helmets, and AEBS. Simultaneously, we estimated the technology penetration and use in the current and new vehicle fleet. Then we used a counterfactual analysis to assess the expected reduction in deaths, DALYs, and economic cost if all cars had these technologies and all road users used protective technologies.

Expected Results Results on number of averted deaths, DALY’s and costs associated with improving vehicle safety standards in Mexico are expected by July 2024. Based on previous evidence, it is anticipated that between 25% and 50% of road traffic deaths can be avoided by complying with UN vehicle safety standards.

Conclusions These findings will contribute to the technical arguments to upgrade current Mexican regulations to international standards.