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Driveway-related motor vehicle injuries in the paediatric population: a preventable tragedy
Feilim Murphy1, Sarah White, Philip Morreau
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Starship Children s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Insights
Childhood driveway injuries are common, especially for young boys reversed over by relatives. Safer driveway design and fencing are crucial for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Injury Prevention
- Public Health
Background:
- Driveway incidents represent a significant cause of injury and death in young children.
- Understanding the specific demographics and circumstances of these events is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and characteristics of children injured by slow-moving vehicles in Auckland driveways.
- To identify key risk factors associated with these injuries.
- To inform the development of targeted preventative strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 76 children under 15 injured in Auckland driveways (1998-2001).
- Data collection included patient demographics, risk factors via clinical notes, parental interviews, and driveway inspections.
Main Results:
- Injuries predominantly affected children under 4 years (86%) and boys (58%), often reversed over by a relative (68%) at home driveways (71%).
- Six deaths occurred; head, thoracic, and lower limb injuries were common.
- Maori and Pacific Island children comprised 74% of cases. Driveways lacked safety fencing.
Conclusions:
- Targeted public health campaigns are needed to raise awareness.
- Safer driveway designs and mandatory fencing for domestic rental properties are recommended.
- Implementing these measures can significantly reduce childhood driveway injuries.
Aim:
To describe the incidence and demographics of children injured by slow-moving vehicles in Auckland driveways in order to develop preventative strategies.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed all children less than 15 years, 76 in total, who were injured by a vehicle in a driveway within Auckland between January 1998 and October 2001. Patient demographics and risk factors were identified by clinical note review, contacting the parents, and inspecting the driveways involved.
Results:
These injuries occur most commonly in children less than 4 years old (86%), usually boys (58%), who are reversed over by a relative (68%) at the home driveway (71%). There were six deaths within the study period. Head and thoracic injuries predominated and were typically associated with lower limb injuries. Maori and Pacific Island children represented 74% of all the cases. Nineteen drivers saw the child immediately prior to reversal in a presumed safe position. None of the driveways had any fencing to separate the driveway from rest of the property.
Conclusions:
A combination of targeted public health messages to increase awareness, safer driveway design and the fencing of domestic rental properties will prevent these injuries.
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