‘Road traffic injuries leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide’
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide, the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), has said. ATCN also identified unsafe road practices and poorly planned transport infrastructures as the leading causes of death and fatal injuries on […]
WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide, the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), has said.
ATCN also identified unsafe road practices and poorly planned transport infrastructures as the leading causes of death and fatal injuries on Nigerian roads.
ATCN President, Ishaku Bamaiyi stated this in Kaduna while speaking at the opening of two-day awareness campaign titled; ‘Promoting Safe and Sustainable Mobility for Youth’ held at the Kaduna State University (KASU) Auditorium.
Speaking on the essence of the Campaign, ATCN President said, “Today’s event is born out of a deep and urgent concern: the alarming rate at which our youth are falling victim to road traffic crashes and the consequences of unsustainable transport systems.
“According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 worldwide.
“In Nigeria alone, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reports that over 6,205 lives were lost in road crashes in 2023, with young people making up more than 50% of these fatalities. These are not just numbers they are students, graduates, workers, and future leaders whose lives were tragically cut short due to unsafe road practices and poorly planned transport infrastructure.”
He further disclosed that beyond fatalities, thousands more suffer life-altering injuries that affect their education, careers, and mental health. In many urban and peri-urban communities, where young people rely on unsafe modes of transportation overloaded motorcycles, poorly maintained vehicles, or long treks on roads without pedestrian walkways.
Earlier in her address, Mobility Programmes Coordinator, Esther Chukwuma Chinazor charged the youths to raise their voice, advocate in their schools, communities, and online, use their creativity through art, music, tech, and storytelling to demand safer streets, proper road infrastructure, functional pedestrian lanes, cycle paths, and public transport that works for everyone.