Once again the Oxford Mail has the appalling job of reporting the death of a young person.

Chloe Owens's passing means the tally of young people killed on Oxfordshire's roads this year has reached double figures.

The number is probably higher than any previous year, and we must now step back and take a serious look at what is wrong with our highways and why these tragedies keep happening.

Although campaigners have won their battle for a barrier on a lethal stretch of Oxford's Eastern Bypass -- after it claimed the lives of three 13-year-old boys and a university student in May -- they had to fight against red tape for this simple and potentially life-saving measure.

Highways bosses and council officers argue that these initiatives cost money, but surely nothing is more costly than the loss of a life -- especially that of a youngster.

Families across Oxfordshire have this year had to come to terms with the loss of their children, and some have coped with their anguish while campaigning for safer roads.

But should it really be up to grieving members of the public to highlight the defects on county highways and byways?

Should they have to fight for something to be done? And should these changes only happen after tragedy has already struck?

In the meantime, our thoughts go out to the family of Chloe Owens at this difficult time -- as they do to the loved ones of Sarah Ertl, Gemma Blackman, Marshall Haynes, Josh Bartlett, Liam Hastings, Howard Hillsdon, David Thompson, Adam Kingham and George Burford, who all have one thing in common that they never should have had.