Facts

Pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children ages 5 to 9. Each year, nearly 800 children ages 14 and under die in pedestrian incidents and another 29,000 are injured in traffic-related crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most young children are struck near their homes in streets or driveways.

Deaths and Injuries

More than 90% of pedestrian incidents happen when a pedestrian:

• Darts out between parked cars
• Walks along the edge of a roadway
• Crosses a multi-lane street
• Crosses in front of a turning vehicle
• Goes to or from an ice cream truck
• Crosses behind a vehicle that is backing up
• Dashes across an intersection
• Crosses in front of a stopped bus

On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 95 minutes.

During the past ten years, 300 school-age pedestrians have died in school bus-related crashes.

Half of all school-age pedestrians killed by school buses in the past 10 years were 5- and 6-year olds.

Connecticut Facts

Pedestrian Injury Among CT Persons < 20 Years of Age
(1988-95)

115 deaths (average 14 deaths / year, range 9 to 16)

Of the 115 deaths:

• 26 (22.6%) occurred among toddlers 1 - 4 years of age
• 26 (22.6%) among 5 - 9 year olds
• 29 (25.2%) among 10 - 14 year olds
• 34 (29.6%) among 15 - 19 year olds
• Pedestrian injury is the leading injury cause of death for 5 - 9 and 10 - 14 year olds

Non-fatal hospitalized injury (1990-94)
636 hospital admissions (average 127 admissions / yr)
of the 636 hospital admissions:

• 4 (0.6%) occurred among infants <1 year
• 102 (16.0%) occurred among toddlers 1 - 4 years of age
• 256 (40.3%) among 5 - 9 year olds
• 168 (26.4%) among 10 - 14 year olds
• 106 (16.7%) among 15 - 19 year olds.

For every pedestrian death there are 9 children admitted to a hospital for a non-fatal injury

Prevention

Teach children to:

• Always stop at the curb or at the edge of the roadway or driveway if there is no curb
• Play in areas where there is no traffic
• Recognize people who can help them cross the street safely (for very young children)
• Never enter the street from between parked cars or behind bushes or shrubs
• Look in all directions before crossing the street
• Obey and recognize all traffic signals and markings
• Wear clothing with reflective materials, especially at dawn and dusk
• Always walk on sidewalks
• Be extra careful in the rain or snow

Information obtained from CT Safe Kids