A case-control study of traffic risk factors and child pedestrian injury

BACKGROUND: Pedestrian injuries in children constitute an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Specific hazards which contribute to these injuries need to be identified to enable the development of preventive strategies. METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted in which 40 aspects of traffic and road environment that contribute to the likelihood of childhood pedestrian injury were examined. The factors of interest were measured at 100 places of injury and 200 control sites between December 1991 and December 1993. RESULTS: The volume of traffic (odds ratio [OR] = 2.16 for an increase of 100 vehicles per hour) in combination with the proportion of vehicles exceeding the speed limit (OR = 1.04) for each 1% increase in average speed, and the presence of footpaths (OR = 11.0) were associated with significant increase in the risk of injury. A graded inverse relationship was present between socioeconomic status and the odds of pedestrian injury. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have obvious implications for public health as features of the physical environment are potentially modifiable.