Horrific Image Of Fatal Road Accident Released To Shock Chinese Into Following Traffic Laws (GRAPHIC PICTURE)

Chinese authorities have released this horrific image of a fatal road accident in an attempt to shock people into observing traffic laws.

The image is date stamped for 5 February 2014 and shows a man and a woman being flung into the air when the bike they were riding struck a car after ignoring a red light.

Both were killed in the crash in Linhai, Zhejiang province, Rex Features reports.

Chinese authorities hope the image will serve as a warning to observe traffic rules

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), each year sees 1.24million people die in road traffic accidents across the globe.

Of this figure, ten countries alone count for more than 600,000 deaths – with China one place behind India overall. The US comes in third place.

The Washington Post writes that while China has roughly one third as many vehicles as the United States, it sees around 20,000 road traffic deaths a year.

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It adds: “Many drivers tend to ignore traffic rules, which has prompted the government to impose strict new laws such as a controversial new measure making it illegal to run a yellow light.”

The WHO is so concerned about the figures, it believes road traffic fatalities will account for the fifth leading cause of death by 2030.

In 2011 it launched the Decade of Action for Road Safety, with the goal of stabilising and reducing the increasing trend in road traffic fatalities and saving an estimated 5 million lives over the period.