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Seatbelts prevent more than 232 pediatric deaths each year
Although there was significant state-to-state variation in the cause of pediatric deaths resulting from motor vehicle crashes, a lack of restraints or inappropriate restraints was a leading predictor of mortality; uniform enforcement of seatbelts and restraints could prevent more than 232 deaths each year.
“No prior study has examined trends in motor vehicle crash-related pediatric mortalities across states and factors associated with geographic variation at the state or regional level,” Lindsey L. Wolf, MD, MPH, from the Center for Surgery and Public Health, a joint venture of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, and colleagues wrote. “This geographic variation is important because laws regarding child traffic safety remain within the state domain.”
The researchers note that because of this state control, it is imperative to understand how these regulations impact pediatric mortality.
To analyze the differences in crashes that result in pediatric mortality based on location and to recognize the risk factors, the researchers identified passengers younger than 15 years who were involved in crashes on public roads within the United States. All analyzed data collected from the 2010-2014 Fatality Analysis Reporting System involved crashes that resulted in one or more death to an adult or a child within 30 days. The researchers then assessed passenger, driver, vehicle, crash and state policy characteristics.
Wolf and colleagues’ main outcome was the age-adjusted, motor vehicle crash-related mortality rate per 100,000 children and the number of children who died in car crashes.
Of the children who were involved in a crash where one or more people died (n = 18,116), 15.9% died, with a mortality rate varying by state. For example, Massachusetts had a rate of 0.25, and Mississippi had a rate of 3.23 (mean national rate = 0.94). Chances of pediatric mortality were higher when children were unrestrained or inappropriately restrained (P < .001), on rural roads (P = .016) or when no red-light camera policy was in place (P < .001).
The researchers predict that the correct use of seatbelts and restraints prevented more than 1,100 pediatric mortalities over the analyzed time period.
“The nature of the factors identified as predictive of pediatric mortality from fatal crashes suggests that state policy characteristics are an important mechanism to decrease pediatric deaths from motor vehicle crashes,” Wolf and Colleagues wrote. “Further, full implementation of policies is necessary to ensure child safety — uneven implementation and enforcement may contribute to the state-level variation we observed.” — by Katherine Bortz
Disclosure: Please see the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.