Traffic Safety Facts: Children 2013

Abstract

In 2013, 3,399 children (ages 0 to 14) were killed or injured in Indiana motor vehicle collisions. Approximately 6 percent of children involved in crashes in the state were killed (35 fatalities) or experienced incapacitating injuries (194). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death among children aged 4 and among children ages 11 through 14 (National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2014). Research has shown that the use of child restraints, including child safety seats and lap/shoulder belts, reduces the risk of fatal and incapacitating injuries. This fact sheet summarizes information on traffic collisions involving children in Indiana between 2009 and 2013. It examines general trends, injury status by age group, restraint usage and seating position, alcohol-related crashes, and geographical analysis by census locale and county.