Over 15 children aged up to 17 are killed every week on EU roads.

An average of more than 15 are killed each week children and young people (aged 0-17) on roads in the European Union and more than 11,000 have been killed in the last decade, according to a new report by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC).

However, the data shows that while road safety has improved over the past decade for this age group, the safety of children and young people differs between European countries. The death rate of people under the age of 18, with road accidents as the main cause, is seven times higher in Bulgaria than in Norway.

Despite the infrastructure improvements made in most European countries, 809 children and young people were killed on the road in 2020 alone. Around 50% of the victims were young people aged 15, 16 and 17. Most young people (42%) are killed in traffic car collisions, while 1/3 of young people (mainly boys) die as riders or passengers on motorcycles, mopeds and scooters.

More boys in the traffic police

The report highlights that traffic education in Europe, although widespread among children in primary education, nevertheless declines when the child moves on to secondary education in many European countries. This shift occurs just as children begin to move independently, away from their parents and gain access to motorized vehicles and even bicycles. Finally, the analysis of the data also shows that child and youth road traffic mortality affects boys more.

The impact of these deaths and injuries is incalculable and when they do happen they change the lives of their families. However, we should remember that children are particularly vulnerable users of it road. They lack experience while driving, are more impulsive, while at younger ages they are less visible to other road users due to their small stature, resulting in an increased rate of drifting. Children also often ignore the dangers and become innocent victims. On the other hand, parents should show appropriate education while driving, taking all those measures (child seats, belts, etc.) in order to increase safety levels, reports the APE-MPE.