Motor vehicle deaths in children: geographic variations

Motor vehicle-related injury is the leading cause of death in children ages 0-14 years in the United States. Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Fatal Accident Reporting System, specific types of motor vehicle injury death in children were examined for the years 1980-1985 (using NCHS data) and 1985-1986 (using FARS data). Death rates were calculated for each specific category of motor vehicle injury for each state and were then mapped to determine patterns of geographic variation. In general, nontraffic pedestrian death rates and death rates for crashes involving light trucks and/or rollovers were higher in the West, and rates of pedestrian deaths in traffic were highest in the South. Some of the likely contributing factors and possible interventions are discussed.