• Road traffic injuries are the second leading cause of death for young people aged 5–25 years.
• The highest rate of fatalities in the 0–25 age range occur among young road users in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Males account for 75% of all road traffic fatalities among those under 25 years of age.
• In low-income and middle-income countries, the young road users most likely to be involved in a crash are vulnerable road users – pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and passengers of private and public transport – with regional variability.
• In high-income countries those most at risk are drivers.
• It is estimated that every year road traffic crashes cost US$ 518 billion globally.
• In low-income and middle-income countries, road traffic crashes cost an estimated US$ 100 billion, which exceeds the total amount received by these countries in overseas development assistance.

Road traffic injury mortality rates
(per 100,000 population) in WHO regions, 2002

Source: World Health Organization. 2006. First United Nations Road Safety Week.

• In Canada, 29% of all road traffic deaths and 32% of road traffic injuries occur among people under 25.
• Young people under 25 represented:
  • 24% of all drivers killed and 24% of all drivers injured
  • 44% of all passengers killed and 47% all passengers injured
  • 43% of all cyclist killed and 38% of all cyclist injured
  • 21% of all pedestrians killed and 38% of all pedestrians injured

Road Traffic Fatalities and Injuries, Canada, 2004

Source: National Collision Database, Transport Canada.