Improving Road Safety for Urban Children

Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death globally for children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 29. Every year around 220,000 children and young people die due to crashes on the world’s roads, the majority in low- and middle-income countries. Around ten million more are injured, including many left with permanent disabilities. Child pedestrians in deprived and excluded communities are particularly at risk.

This brief provides a summary of key evidence on preventing road traffic injuries among children and effective evidence-based interventions. While evidence is most extensive for high-income settings, there is an increasing body of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions in low- and middle-income settings. The brief includes global policy commitments and resources for more information and practical support.