Road traffic crashes kill 1.2 million people each year and injure millions more, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. Every day just over 1000 young people under the age of 25 years are killed in road traffic crashes around the world. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death globally among 15–19-year-olds, while for those in the 10–14-years and 20–24-years age brackets they are the second leading cause of death. Most young people killed in road crashes are vulnerable road users – pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and passengers of public transport – with those from the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions most at risk. In many parts of the world children and young adults and other vulnerable road users have been given inadequate consideration in urban planning decisions. As a result, they are often forced to share transport space with motorized vehicles, increasing their chances of being involved in a road traffic crash. A combination of physical and developmental immaturity among children, and inexperience and youth-related lifestyles further increase the risk of young road users – particularly males – to road traffic collisions. A number of factors increase the likelihood of road traffic injuries occurring, not only among young people, but also in the general population. These include speed, lack of helmet use, lack of seat-belt and child restraint use, drinking and driving, and lack of conspicuity. Interventions to address these specific risk factors have been promoted through the World report on road traffic injury prevention. Strategies to protect children in traffic can include modifications to the environment and to vehicles and changes in behaviour. This document outlines some of the strategies that can be targeted specifically at reducing road traffic crashes among youth. These include addressing the major risk factors, through legislation and enforcement, and by educating the public about the use of protective equipment. Road traffic injuries are a public health epidemic that costs countries millions of dollars. However, there is evidence of what can be done effectively to cut the volume of deaths and injuries linked to road traffic crashes. Bringing about a reduction in the road traffic toll among youth requires both political will and financial investments in prevention efforts targeting young people. (Author/publisher) This document is downloadable from: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications
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