This indicator was published in March 2020.

In May 2021 we updated our graphs and charts where new data had been published, and we reviewed our policy recommendations by nation.

Background

• Globally, road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5-29 years.¹ In the five year period from 2013 to 2017, a total of 4,090 17-19 year olds in Great Britain were killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents.
• Road traffic accidents are preventable.
• The UK has much lower road traffic death rates among children and young people than comparable Western countries.² In 2017, the UK had the third lowest rate of road deaths in Europe, and second in the European Union.³
• There are significant health inequalities, with the risk of road traffic injuries is higher for those young people living in deprived areas.⁴
• The highest risk of injury occurs immediately after young people can start legally using cars and motorcycles in terms of rates of both hospital admissions and police-reported serious and fatal casualties.⁵

Key findings

• This indicator focuses on road traffic injuries for those aged 17-19 years. The data do not include pedestrian injuries on the roads.
• Among young people aged 17-19 years, the overall rate of road traffic injuries has steadily decreased in England, Scotland and Wales from 2005 to 2017. In 2017, the rates were: 3.4 in Wales, 3.4 in England and 2.8 in Scotland per 1,000 young people aged 17-19.
• Rates of serious or fatal road traffic injuries have decreased in the past decade, but is plateauing – and rose in England from 2016 to 2017. Despite a long term reduction since 2005, the latest figures show a rise in England from 33.2 (2016) to 37.7 (2017) per 100,000 young people aged 17-19. Trends in Scotland and Wales have fluctuated from 2005-2017, though reduced overall.
• In 2017, Wales had the highest serious or fatal injury rate, at 47.7 per 100,000 17-19 year olds.
• Male injuries remain more common than female, despite the gap closing dramatically from 2005 to 2013. In 2017, there were 198 more male than female fatalities or serious injuries in 17-19 year olds in Great Britain. Between 2005 and 2013, there was a dramatic reduction in serious or fatal injuries among young men aged 17-19, falling from 128.9 to 40.7 per 100,000. However, since then, the trend has levelled and recently rose to 45.7 per 100,000 in 2017.

What does good look like?

Continued focus on national road safety as a priority. The significant reductions in road accidents in recent decades is a good news story for the UK, and demonstrates the value of a nationally-led strategic approach to injury prevention incorporating a blend of the so-called “Three Es”: Engineering, Education and Enforcement.⁶ Close attention should be paid to the recent increase in road traffic injuries in England to ensure it is not the start of an unwelcome trend.

Design safer roads and communities. Safe environments encourage safe, active travel among children and young people. Active travel, including walking and cycling, has been encouraged by the Department for Transport ⁷ and the Government has committed to providing safe streets for 12 year olds by 2040⁸. This cannot be achieved without significant investment and focus in designing and planning healthier built environments, and harmonious and safe interactions between road, cycle and pedestrian routes.⁹

Speed restrictions especially in high risk areas. Judicious spread, and effective enforcement, of 20mph speed limit zones, especially in urban areas, should be encouraged. 20mph speed restrictions have already been implemented across the UK in high risk areas, and there is evidence that they can be effective in injury reduction, with a 6% reduction in collisions noted for every 1mph speed reduction in urban areas.¹⁰ There may be benefits too in reducing inequalities, and wider public health impact on active travel and air quality.¹¹

Prevention of road traffic accidents, particularly for at risk young people. Increased education and training for young drivers is required to improve hazard perception skills for: rural environments, independent driving, and driving in dark / extreme weather conditions.¹² The risk of young drivers being involved in a road traffic accident drops sharply after the first six months of driving;¹³ exposure to scenarios increases the experience of young drivers, leading to positive behaviour change. Measures are available to assist young drivers, such as Intelligent Speed Assistance and Automated Emergency Braking, which can mitigate or prevent traffic collisions.¹⁴ Graduated Driver licensing, which places safety restrictions on newly qualified drivers, have been shown to reduce road related deaths.¹⁵

Implement commitments made within the 2019 Road Safety Statement. In 2019, the Department for Transport’s Statement provided recommendations to ensure ‘safer people, safer vehicles and safer roads’ in Great Britain; outlining that road accidents are a result of the wider transport system, from road design and signage to road user education.¹⁶ The Statement outlines actions for the UK Government specific to young adults, including the exploration of a Graduated Learner Scheme. Furthermore, in 2018 the Department for Transport announced £100m for the Safe Roads Fund, to review cycling and walking safety, targeting 50 of the most dangerous roads in England. We also welcome Public Health Wales’ 2016 draft position statement in support of Graduated Driver Licensing.

Policy recommendations

What can health professionals do about this?

Advocate for safe built environments in your local area: The voice of clinical champions in the community can be a powerful one. Use available local or national data to articulate the needs of your local population, highlight road safety concerns that come to your attention as healthcare professionals, and bring them to the attention of local decision makers and commissioners.

Contributing authors

• Dr Ronny Cheung, RCPCH State of Child Health Clinical Lead
• Rachael McKeown, RCPCH State of Child Health Project Manager
• Dr Rakhee Shah, RCPCH State of Child Health Clinical Advisor