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Infants under 1 year old are disproportionately represented in fatal motor vehicle accidents. Most child occupants were unrestrained, with head injuries being common, especially in the youngest victims.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Road Safety
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Motor vehicle accidents remain a significant cause of death in children.
- Child occupant safety is a critical public health concern.
- Understanding age-specific risks in traffic fatalities is essential for targeted interventions.
Abstract:
In a series of 89 children less than 15 years old who were killed as motor vehicle occupants, children under 1 year of age were greatly overrepresented. Only three children were using child restraint systems or seat belts. Eight were traveling on their parents' laps. Head injuries predominated and were most common in the youngest children. Children under age 1 were the most likely to have reached the hospital alive. The high death rate for very young children was not explained by the circumstances of the crashes or by the age distribution of children involved in all crashes.