"Road traffic accidents continue to be the leading cause of death among young people," said michael muhlichen of the bib, according to the release. "The decrease in traffic mortality contributed significantly to an overall decrease in mortality."
In 2000, almost one in two deaths among men between the ages of 15 and 24 was caused by a traffic accident. 2010 it was just over one in four. "Until 2003, more men died in road traffic each year than women of the same age in total," the release states. Every third death of a woman in this age group was related to a traffic accident in 2000; in 2010, it was only every fourth death. Between 1990 and 2000, the numbers for both genders were still fairly constant.
But even independently of traffic accidents, the risk of death is higher for men than for women. "This applies to all age groups with the exception of the very elderly (90 years and older)," notes the bib. After that, the gender differences are particularly high at the age of 15 to 24 years, although with a decreasing tendency. A riskier, unhealthier lifestyle is often assumed to be the cause among young men.