Fatalities of Children 0–7 Years Old in the Second Row

Abstract

Objective. The safety of children riding in the second-row of light vehicles remains an important issue. This study investigates fatal accidents of children 0–7 years old by seating position and principal direction of force. It considers the number of fatalities, exposure, and risk. Methods. The 1996–2005 FARS was analyzed for occupant fatalities by age (0–7 and ≥ 8 years old), seating position (front, second, and third-row, and left, middle and right) and principal direction of force (1–12 o'clock PDOF, rollover, and other/unknown). Light vehicles were included with model year 1990+. The 1996–2005 NASS-CDS was similarly analyzed for occupant exposure. Fatality risk was defined as the number of fatalities in FARS divided by the exposure from NASS-CDS for each seating position and crash direction. Results. Two thirds (67.8%) of 0-to 7-year-old child fatalities occupied second-row-seats in FARS. A nearly equal number died in rollovers (20.3%), front impacts (20.2%), and side crashes (19.6%). About 354 deaths occur to second-row-seated children annually. A majority (76.6%) of children ride in the second-row based on tow away crashes in NASS-CDS. Most are exposed to front impacts (41.6%), followed by side impacts (16.5%). Rollovers are the lowest frequency (5.0%). However, fatality risk is highest in rollovers (1.37%), followed by right-side (0.47%) and left-side impacts (0.34%). Near-seated children in the second-row have a 3.04% fatality risk for right-side (3 o'clock) impacts. This is nearly twice the 1.53% risk for near-side second-row children in left-side (9 o'clock) impacts. Overall, right-side impacts have a 37% higher fatality risk than left-side impacts, irrespective of second-row seating position. The second-row has a 43.4% lower fatality risk than the front seat (0.30% v 0.53%) and the third-row is 58.5% lower (0.22% v 0.53%) for 0-to 7-year-old children. Overall, children seated behind the driver have an 8.1% lower fatality risk than those seated behind the right-front passenger, although the center second-row-seat has the lowest risk (0.27%). Children in the second-row have a 65–71% lower fatality risk than the driver with the lowest relative risk in the center second-row-seat (0.29) and highest in the second-row right position (0.35). Conclusions. Children seated behind the driver have a lower fatality risk than those seated behind the right-front passenger. The higher risk to right second-row children is from near-side impacts at 3–4 o'clock and rollovers. In terms of priorities, rollovers, side impacts, and frontal crashes cause most fatalities. The highest risks for 0-to 7-year-old children in the second-row are in near-side impacts and rollovers.