A deadly car crash in Nigeria involving former boxing champion Anthony Joshua and two minibus accidents in South Africa have highlighted Africa's poor road safety record. The continent has the highest road fatality rate globally, despite having only about 3% of the world's vehicles. According to the United Nations, Africa sees 26 road deaths per 100,000 people, compared with a global average of 18. The World Health Organization reports that road deaths have decreased globally but increased in Africa. Pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes often share crowded roads with cars, buses, and trucks, leading to high pedestrian fatalities.
By MATTHEW DALY and ALEXA ST. JOHN Associated Press
President Donald Trump has announced a proposal to weaken vehicle mileage rules for the auto industry. If the plan announced Wednesday is finalized next year, it would ease pressure on automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and trucks. The proposal would significantly reduce fuel economy requirements through the 2031 model year. Those requirements set rules on how far new vehicles need to travel on a gallon of gasoline. It's the Trump administration's latest move to reverse Biden-era policies that encouraged cleaner-running cars and trucks, including electric vehicles. Environmentalists said the rule change would increase pollution and raise prices for consumers by allowing less fuel-efficient cars.
