Analysis of motor vehicle-related fatalities involving children under the age of six years (1995-2000)

Between 15 and 16 children under the age of 6 years were killed each year due to motor vehicle crashes based on this study of coroners records in NSW over a six year period. Around half of these children were passengers in vehicles at the time and half were pedestrians. Overall, two year olds were the single most vulnerable age group, accounting for just over one-quarter of cases. Males were slightly more likely to be involved in crashes than females (57% of cases were male). Most crashes occurred in metropolitan regions. Passenger crashes and pedestrian crashes had different characteristics. To a large extent these differences reflect the degree to which the child played a role in the crash. The aims of this study were: 1. To describe the causes of general motor vehicle accidents involving deaths in children aged five years and under. 2. To describe the causes of driveway deaths involving this age group. 3. To look for common factors across cases that could provide direction for action to prevent similar accidents occurring in the future. Information is provided under the following headings: -Characteristics of passenger fatalities versus pedestrian fatalities -Passenger fatalities -Pedestrian fatalities -Characteristics of off-road pedestrian fatalities -The main patterns of the circumstances off-road pedestrian fatalities -Recommendations