Driver and road characteristics associated with child pedestrian injuries

Abstract

BackgroundChild pedestrians make up a significant proportion of all road traffic deaths. Our primary objective was to examine the association of driver characteristics with child pedestrian injuries with a secondary objective to broadly describe the road characteristics surrounding these collisions. MethodsWe included drivers involved in child (<18 years old) pedestrian motor-vehicle collisions (PMVCs) in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta (2010–2015). These drivers were compared with not at fault (Alberta adaptation of a Canadian culpability scoring tool) drivers involved in vehicle-only collisions. The data were analyzed with unconditional logistic regression. ResultsSeven hundred ninety-three drivers collided with 826 children. One quarter of child PMVC drivers were 40–54 years old (25.2%). Younger drivers, 16–24 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.27–2.09), and older drivers, ≥55 (aOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.24–1.99) were more likely to be involved in a child PMVC. Time of day between 06:01 – 09:00 (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.16–1.85) and 18:01 – 24:00 (aOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.30–2.17), no seatbelt use (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.09–4.85), having a child passenger in the vehicle (aOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.56–2.96), and impairment including ‘had been drinking’ (aOR = 7.70, 95% CI: 2.85–20.86) and ‘fatigued/asleep/medical defect’ (aOR = 27.15, 95% CI: 8.30–88.88) were also associated with being a driver involved in a child PMVC. ConclusionsAge, time, impairment and distraction were risk factors for being a driver involved in a child PMVC. Because child PMVC driver characteristics differ from the general driver population, driver-based interventions are a rational additional means of preventing child PMVCs.