Factors Affecting the Severity of Injuries Sustained by Crash-Involved Child Passengers

Motor vehicles crashes are one of the leading causes of death and injury among children under age 8. From 2004 to 2009, over 14,000 child passengers in this age group were involved in traffic crashes in the State of Michigan. This study examined factors that impacted the degree of injury severity sustained by crash-involved child passengers over this period. The use of child restraint devices was found to decrease the likelihood of severe injuries by over 75 percent and reduce the likelihood of injuries overall by more than 200 percent in comparison to the non-use of restraints. The use of a safety belt alone was also shown to decrease injuries, though these impacts were less pronounced in comparison to child restraint device use. Injuries also tended to be less severe among younger children, when children were seated in the rear row of seats, and in collisions involving lower speeds and impact forces. Severe injuries were more likely among older children, particularly when they were seated in the front seat of the vehicle. High speeds, collisions among vehicles traveling in different directions, and high-risk behaviors such as distracted driving and alcohol use were found to increase the likelihood of severe injuries, as were crashes involving younger drivers. A parallel analysis of driver injury severity revealed these effects to be generally consistent among drivers and child passengers. Interestingly, the use of restraints by either party also reduced the other’s chances of being injured, a possible indication of risk compensation effects.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Savolainen, Peter Tarmo
  • Schneider IV, William Henry
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2011-1-23 to 2011-1-27
• Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: TRB 90th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Child restraint systems; Crash investigation; Fatalities; Human factors in crashes; Injury severity; Passenger transportation; Seat belts; Traffic crashes
• Geographic Terms: Michigan
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01332863
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 11-2246
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 21 2011 2:13PM