The number of children under 13 who are killed in traffic has declined dramatically over the past 50 years, even as the overall number of traffic fatalities has climbed, then dropped, then climbed again. The largest declines were among child pedestrians and bicyclists. Still, the number of child passengers killed in traffic accidents in 2023 (559) was nearly 60% lower than the number killed in 1975 (1,384).
In 1975, passenger deaths made up just 38% of child traffic fatalities. By 2023, that figure had climbed to more than 71%. So, why haven’t child passenger deaths kept pace with other declines, and what can we do to keep children in vehicles safer?
Risk Factors for Child Passengers
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
One of the most significant risk factors for kids in cars is intoxicated drivers. Recent data showed that an alcohol-impaired driver was involved in about 25% of deaths of passengers under the age of 15. Obviously, driving under the influence is a significant contributor to traffic injuries and deaths among people of all ages, and of pedestrian and bicyclist accidents.
For child passengers, driving under the influence correlates with another risk–perhaps the most significant risk of all. Child passengers of drivers who are alcohol impaired are significantly more likely to be unrestrained.
Lack of Child Safety Restraints
The appropriate safety restraint for a child depends on the child’s age and size. A child may require a car seat, a booster seat, or just a seat belt. Unfortunately, proper restraints aren’t always used. In some cases, children have no safety restraints at all.
In one observational study in 2021, researchers found that 6% of children aged 1-3, 11% of children aged 4-7 and 13% of children aged 8-12 were unrestrained in traffic. The percentage of child passengers who die in traffic who were unrestrained is much higher. Though the age categories differed slightly, another study determined that 30% of children aged 0-3 who were killed in automobile crashes were unrestrained, as were 36% of kids aged 8-12 who died in car accidents.
Driver behavior has a big impact on whether kids are properly restrained in vehicles, even when the children are old enough to buckle themselves in. 69% of kids 14 and under who were killed in car accidents while riding with an unrestrained driver were also unrestrained. Just 26% of those riding with a driver who used safety restraints were unrestrained.
Similarly, children riding with drivers who were under the influence of alcohol were more likely to be unrestrained than those with sober drivers.
Even when children are restrained in a vehicle, improper restraint can increase the risk of injury or death. This may include using a booster seat before the child is large enough to fit the seat properly or moving to an adult seat belt prematurely–even if they are old enough. For example, in South Carolina a child may use an adult seatbelt if they are at least 8 years old or 57 inches tall and can be safely secured with a seatbelt. But, not every 8-year-old is large enough to be protected by a standard seat belt.
Location
Children in rural counties are at greater risk of dying in a car accident than those in more urban areas. In part, that may be due to other general risk factors such as higher speeds and greater distance from help in the event of an accident. However, studies have also shown that child passengers in rural counties are less likely to be restrained and more likely to be improperly restrained than their urban peers.
Protecting Child Passengers in South Carolina
As a parent or other person transporting children in a vehicle, you should never operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and should obey all other traffic safety laws. Children are at greater risk of injury than adults in some types of collisions because of their smaller size, more fragile bones, incomplete development, and proportionately larger head size. Kids can also suffer different injuries than adults, particularly when they aren’t properly restrained, because the vulnerable parts of their bodies are in a different position in relation to parts of the vehicle.
In addition to observing speed limits, avoiding distractions, and taking all other appropriate safe driving measures, you should make sure that any children in your vehicle are properly secured at all times.
If you’re unsure whether you have the right car seat for your child or whether your car seat is properly installed, the Charleston Fire Department offers inspections on the first Wednesday of the month. You can also contact the Charleston-area Safe Kids Coalition. After one recent event, the coalition lead for Charleston said that 78% of car seats inspected had been improperly installed or positioned.
If you can’t afford a car seat, be sure to explore all of your options. Some automobile insurance companies provide car seats, as do some hospitals and non-profit organizations. Since car seats are used for a limited time, you may also be able to obtain one from a friend or relative whose child has outgrown the seat, or in a local Freecycle or similar group. If you don’t know where to start, dialing 211 in South Carolina connects you to a United Way helpline that can help you find local resources for a wide range of problems.
Get the Help You Need after a Car Accident
Ideally, neither you nor a member of your family will be injured in a car accident. But sometimes crashes happen, even when you’ve done everything right. If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver, you should speak with an experienced Charleston motor vehicle accident lawyer right away. Injury attorney Frank Hartman offers free consultations to ensure that you have the information you need to protect yourself and your loved ones after an injury. To learn more or schedule a free consultation, call 843-300-7600.