Motor Vehicle Crashes, Medical Outcomes, and Hospital Charges Among Children Aged 1–12 Years — Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System, 11 States, 2005–2008

Abstract

Effective interventions for increasing proper child restraint use could be universally implemented by states and communities to prevent motor vehicle-related injuries among children and their resulting costs.

Child Restraint Use and Driver Screening in Fatal Crashes Involving Drugs and Alcohol

“…7, 8, 16, 19 -22 Our finding that child passengers were more likely to be front-seated if drivers screened positive for drugs, alcohol, and for both drugs and alcohol is consistent with an earlier study that concluded drivers suspected of alcohol or drug use had a higher percentage of child passengers riding in a front seat compared with drivers not suspected of alcohol or drug use. 16 Particularly, the combination use of alcohol and drugs was associated with a lower restraint use compared with child passengers of drivers who were positive for either alcohol or drugs alone.…”

“…15 An earlier study (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) found that drivers suspected of alcohol or drug use transported a higher percentage of unrestrained front seat child passengers compared with drivers not suspected of alcohol or drug use. 16 Drug regulations have changed since the time frame of this earlier study. In particular, since that time, legalization of marijuana for medicinal and recreational use has occurred, with considerable variation that could have serious implications for the strength of enforcement, oversight, and monitoring of child safety.…”

Childhood trauma, disability, hospital charges and prevention

“…Child restraint use also was associated with impaired driving due to alcohol or drug use; 16.4% of children riding with drivers suspected of alcohol or drug use were unrestrained compared with 2.9% of children riding with drivers not suspected of such use. Optimally restrained and suboptimally restrained children were less likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury than unrestrained children [8].…”

“…The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) is a multistate program facilitated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to link police crash reports and hospital databases for traffic safety analyses [8]. Eleven states (Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah) submitted data to CODES during 2005-2008. Optimal restraint use in the back seat declined with child's age (1 year: 95.9%, 5 years: 95.4%, 7 years: 94.7%, 8 years: 77.4%, 10 years: 67.5%, 12 years: 54.7%).…”

Booster Seat Effectiveness Among Older Children: Evidence From Washington State

“…9–12 For instance, Durbin et al 9 examined data on children aged 4–7 years involved in an MVC. They found that booster seat use was associated with a 59% decrease in the odds of injury compared with being restrained by a seat belt alone.…”