Car crashes are the leading cause of death worldwide for those aged between 10 and 24, the U.N. health agency said Thursday, adding that most fatalities are occurring in developing countries with poor road safety conditions. Nearly 400,000 young people under 25 are killed in traffic accidents every year and millions more are injured or disabled, the World Health Organization said. Its 40-page «youth and road safety» report was issued as part of a new initiative by the U.N. to improve global road safety, according to The Associated Press. «The lack of safety on our roads has become an important obstacle to health and development,» said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. «Our children and young adults are among the most vulnerable. Road traffic crashes are not 'accidents.' We need to challenge the notion that they are unavoidable.»
