Road traffic accidents have become the eighth leading cause of death worldwide killing 1.35 million people a year, a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed.

The "unacceptably high" death toll is higher than that from malaria, HIV or tuberculosis and is climbing - global road traffic deaths stood at 1.15 million in 2000.

Children and young adults are most at risk, with more than 440,000 aged between five and 29 killed on the roads in 2016.

"Road safety is an issue that does not receive anywhere near the attention it deserves," said Michael Bloomberg, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the WHO's global ambassador for noncommunicable diseases and injuries.

"We know which interventions work. Strong policies and enforcement, smart road design, and powerful public awareness campaigns can save millions of lives over the coming decades."