Epidemiology of Childhood Motor Vehicle Related Accidents

Motor vehicle related accidents are a highly significant cause of injury and death of children in industrialized countries throughout the world. In 1977 in the United States alone, there were 4,700 motor vehicle related deaths and over 180,000 disabling injuries of children from birth to age 14 years. Careful analysis of those factors which contribute to the morbidity and mortality rates and establishment of counteracting programs to reduce the destructive effects of these factors offers hope for the future.