Environmental factors and child pedestrian injuries

The aim of this study was to provide information on modifiable environmental factors at sites of child pedestrian injuries which would be useful for the design of preventive strategies. A total of 103 child pedestrian injuries was identified over a one-year surveillance period. Of these, 71 per cent occurred on public roads, 24 per cent occurred in residential driveways and 4 per cent occurred in car parks. For roadway injury sites, the median traffic flow was 635 vehicles per hour and the median speed was 49.0 kph. For 31 (42 per cent) roadway injury sites the median vehicle speed was in excess of the posted speed limit. The majority of roadway injuries occurred on residential streets. For driveway injuries there was no separation of the driveway from the children's play area in 75 per cent. Changes to the urban traffic environment which reduce traffic flows and vehicle speeds have the potential to prevent child pedestrian injuries. Controlled epidemiologic studies which examined the magnitude of the risks associated with modifiable environmental factors are required.