IS ON ‘Rise in violence’ as planet warms

GLOBAL warming could cause a surge in road crashes and violent deaths.

And young people will be most affected as temperatures rise, say experts.

The increase in “deaths from injuries” suicides, drownings, assaults and accidents.

People drinking more, getting angrier in the heat and swimming outdoors will be factors behind the rise.

Driving ability can also deteriorate in warmer weather, with motorists struggling to distinguish objects. Men aged 15 to 34 are most likely to be affected, as 84% of the extra deaths will be males.

However researchers predict a small decrease in the number of older people dying from falls as winters will have less ice.

Tragedy

Dr Robbie Parks of Imperial College London, who led the study, said: “We found the majority (of extra victims) would be younger, mostly young men. The increase in deaths are shown by a robust association with rising temperatures.

“The people who are dying from these injuries are otherwise healthy younger people.”

He added: “Every life lost is a tragedy, but it casts a new horizon on to who is dying. Males are dying will include more from injuries because they are, on the whole, more risk-taking in certain situations.”

He said there is a link with “rising alcohol consumption” by younger people in warmer weather.

Road crashes are predicted to make up 42% of the extra deaths, suicide about 30%, and violence and drowning both 14%.

Dr Parks said: “People are quicker to anger under rising temperatures.

“Everyone is outdoors. Interactions alone, as well as having warmer temperatures, can increase the chances of conflicts.”

Global temperatures are set to rise 3-4C by 2100.