In 1996, there were almost 58 million children under 15 years old
in the United States. This age group (0-14 years) made up 22 percent of
the total U.S. resident population in 1996. Motor vehicle crashes are the
leading cause of death for children of every age from 6 to 14 years old
(based on 1993 figures, which are the latest mortality data currently available
from the National Center for Health Statistics).
- In 1996, there were a total of 41,907 traffic fatalities in the United
States.
- The 0-14 age group accounted for 7 percent (2,761) of those traffic
fatalities.
- Children under 15 years old accounted for 5 percent (1,811) of all
vehicle occupant fatalities, 10 percent (358,000) of all the people injured
in motor vehicle crashes, and 9 percent (305,000) of all the vehicle occupants
injured in crashes.
- In the United States, an average of 8 children 0-14 years old were
killed and 980 were injured every day in motor vehicle crashes during 1996.
- In the 0-14 year age group, males accounted for 58 percent of the fatalities
and 48 percent of those injured in motor vehicle crashes during 1996.
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- Child Endangerment
- In 1996, nearly 21 percent of the children under 15 years old who were
killed in motor vehicle crashes were killed in alcohol-related crashes.
- Of the children 0-14 years old who were killed in alcohol-related crashes
during 1996, almost half (259) were passengers in vehicles with drivers
who had been drinking, with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of
0.01 gram per deciliter (g/dl) or higher.
- An additional 137 children were killed as passengers in vehicles with
drivers who had not been drinking.
- Another 95 children under 15 years old who were killed in traffic crashes
in 1996 were pedestrians or pedal cyclists who were struck by drinking
drivers (BAC 0.01 g/dl).
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- Pedestrians
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- In 1986, there were 1,023 pedestrian fatalities in the 0-14 year age
group.
- From 1986 to 1996, the number of pedestrian fatalities in this age
group decreased by 35 percent, with the 5-9 year age group showing the
largest decrease.
- There were 5,412 pedestrian fatalities in 1996. The 0-14 age group
accounted for 666 (12 percent) of those fatalities, and 65 percent of the
pedestrian fatalities in this age group were males.
- In addition to the pedestrians under 15 years old who died, 26,000
were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
- These young pedestrians accounted for 32 percent of the total pedestrians
injured in motor vehicle crashes in 1996. Nearly one-fourth (24 percent)
of the traffic fatalities in the 0-14 year age group were pedestrians.
- During 1996, 45 percent of the young pedestrian fatalities occurred
between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm, and 78 percent occurred at non-intersection
locations.
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- Pedal cyclists
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- A total of 761 pedal cyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes
in 1996.
- Children 0-14 years old accounted for 223 (29 percent) of those fatalities.
- In 1996, 41 percent of the pedal cyclists injured in motor vehicle
crashes were under 15 years old.
- The 223 pedal cyclist fatalities in 1996 for the 0-14 year age group
represent a decrease of 44 percent from the 397 killed in 1986. Bicycle
helmets are 85 to 88 percent effective in mitigating head and brain injuries
in all types of bicycle incidents, making the use of helmets the single
most effective countermeasure available to reduce head injuries and fatalities
resulting from bicycle crashes. (Source: Robert Thompson, A Case Control
Study of the Effectiveness of Bicycle Safety Helmets. Centers for Disease
Control.)
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- Restraints
- Research has shown that lap/shoulder safety belts, when used, reduce
the risk of fatal injury to front seat occupants (age 5 years and older)
of passenger cars by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury
by 50 percent.
- For light truck occupants, safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury
by 60 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.
- During 1996, 9,151 motor vehicle occupants under 15 years old were
involved in fatal crashes.
- For those children, where restraint use was known, 45 percent were
unrestrained; among those who were fatally injured, 62 percent were unrestrained.
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