400,000 Young People Die in Road Crashes Annually: WHO
A new World Health Organization report says road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24 years and calculates nearly 400,000 people under age 25 are killed each year in crashes. The report, "Youth and Road Safety," says millions more are injured or disabled.
"The vast majority of these deaths and injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries," the agency said April 19, adding that the highest rates are in Africa and the Middle East.
WHO also said unless more comprehensive global action is taken, the number of deaths and injuries is likely to rise significantly. Road traffic collisions already cost an estimated $518 billion, it says. The report points out that most road crashes are predictable and preventable.