Roads Kill Map: Visualizing the Untold Story of Global Road Fatalities

By Dan McCarey

The global road death toll, a staggering but often overlooked crisis, accounts for millions of lives lost or changed each year due to road accidents.

In a bid to highlight this critical issue, the Pulitzer Center commissioned me to develop "Roads Kill," an interactive map that visualizes the global road death toll. This project aimed to transform complex statistics into a narrative that not only informs but also engages a global audience.

"Roads Kill" was crafted to be more than just a display of numbers; it was designed to tell the human stories behind these tragedies. The project's challenge was to convert raw data into a compelling narrative, illustrating the severity of road accidents worldwide and prompting a proactive stance on road safety.

A standout feature of the map was an interactive tour, written by journalist Tom Hundley, which guided users through pertinent data points, enriching the map with context and in-depth insights.

Integral to the map's design was a meticulous consideration of its color scheme and overall aesthetic. Inspired by the high-contrast, black and yellow road signs commonly seen in the Australian Outback — notably the signs warning of kangaroos — I aimed to replicate that clarity and immediacy in "Roads Kill."

This choice was deliberate; the high contrast like that of road signs ensures that the information is immediately striking and easily digestible, mirroring the directness and urgency of road safety signs.

Upon launch, Roads Kill rapidly went viral, amassing over a million views in the first few months. This extraordinary level of engagement underscored the public's concern about road safety and validated the effectiveness of the map in drawing attention to this crucial issue.

The map became a key resource for policymakers, safety advocates, and the public, sparking discussions and inspiring actions towards improving road safety worldwide.

Standing as a testament to the potential of combining data, design, and storytelling, Roads Kill owes its success to the collaborative efforts of the Pulitzer Center, Tom Hundley, and all contributors who helped bring this vital issue to the forefront of public consciousness.