A substantial literature documents the over-representation of young people, especially males, in serious injuries - particularly fatalities, during work, driving, leisure and other activities, as well as their greater propensity for risk taking and differences between their risk perceptions and those of more mature people. This paper outlines some contemporary research into cognition and brain function development during adolescence that could help to explain why young people are over-represented in injury statistics in various environments, also considering sex and other individual differences. It is argued that attempts to reduce the death and injury toll among young workers as well as young people in other environments must be based upon improved understanding of neurological, cognitive and developmental contexts.