Each year 32 000 people younger than 25 years in the WHO European Region lose their lives to road traffic injuries, making this the third leading cause of death. Deaths are the tip of the iceberg, and road traffic injuries are also a leading cause of hospital attendance and disability and high societal costs. Among the young people who are killed, about half those younger than 15 years die as pedestrians, whereas those 15–24 years old predominantly die as car or motorcycle users.

Children and young adults need special consideration as vulnerable and inexperienced road users, as they may not have the necessary skills and experience to handle road environments that have been designed for adults. A failure to safeguard the roads compromises their fundamental right to safety. The Region has great disparity in deaths from road traffic injuries, with an eight-fold difference between the countries with the highest and lowest rates.

The burden of road traffic injuries is unequally distributed according to socioeconomic class within countries, which is a growing concern. The inequality in the Region reflects important differences in exposure to risk, environmental risk factors and enforcement practices. Such inequity in health is an important area of social justice that should be addressed.

This briefing, along with the global report Youth and road safety, highlights some of the risk factors that put young people at increased risk. Although also relevant to all ages, factors such as speed, alcohol, not being conspicuous, not using crash helmets, seat-belts and child passenger restraints and road and vehicle designs that do not have inherent safety features built in increase the likelihood of serious road crashes.

To counteract this relentless daily toll, many cost-effective and equitable interventions have been proposed. There is a wealth of experience in the Region and opportunities to learn from this. However, the implementation and enforcement of safety measures requires political and financial commitment.

Policy-makers, practitioners and advocates need to work together to respond to this public health threat to protect young people in Europe.

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Youth and road safety in Europe
Policy briefing
By: Dinesh Sethi, Francesca Racioppi and Francesco Mitis
WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome
WHO Regional Office for Europe

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements vi
Acronym s vii
Foreword viii
Executive summ ary 1
1. Why this policy briefing? 2
2. How great is the problem of road traffic injuries among young people in Europe? 4
2.1 From childhood to young adulthood: changing vulnerability 4
2.2 Road safety among young people: inequality in the Region 6
2.3 Socioeconomic inequality in road crash deaths within countries 9
2.4 Fear of unsafe roads: lack of physical activity and increasing obesity 9
2.5 Road safety among young people: risk differs among modes of road transport 10
3. What can be done? Risk factors and strategies for prevention 12
3.1 Reducing risks among young drivers 12
3.2 Speeding and the risk of severe injury and death 13
3.3 Increasing the use of helmets 14
3.4 Measures to reduce driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs 15
3.5 Using seat-belts and child restraints 16
3.6 Improving the road environment 17
3.7 Safer vehicle design for protecting people in crashes 17
3.8 Improving conspicuousness and visibility 18
3.9 Improving the quality of trauma care 18
4. A framework for further action 19
4.1 Strengthening national plans and agencies for road safety 19
4.2 Improving surveillance 20
4.3 Strengthening national capacity – the role of professionals 20
4.4 Promoting evidence-based practice by facilitating the exchange of knowledge 20
4.5 Recognizing gaps in knowledge and promoting research on protecting vulnerable people 20
4.6 Promoting multisectoral approaches to policy-making 20
5. Conclusions 21

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