Injuries are the leading cause of preventable death in children and young people, and of preventable years of life lost up to age 65. As such, they present a significant cost to individuals, society, and the economy. They also contribute to injustice, with children from poorer backgrounds being more likely to die as a result of an injury. Crucially, injuries are preventable. Although the UK has been a world leader in injury prevention policy, austerity and a lack of strategy have hampered further improvement. In a post-pandemic society, the government should act on the renewed focus on public health to address the disconnect between the importance of injury prevention and its neglect in terms of funding, enforcement and strategy, to make the safety of the people the highest law.