When you drive your children around so often, you may not even think twice about the risk of being on the road. However, the CDC reveals that for children 5 years old and above, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death, and the top cause of those fatal injuries is motor vehicle accidents. For children under 5 years old, car crashes come in second behind accidental drowning.
What are the reasons behind these sobering statistics?
High rates of driving and traffic
Naturally, an activity that is part of daily life will come with higher odds of an accident than something that your children only participate in occasionally. Also, traffic is high in urban areas, such as Philadelphia, raising the chances even more.
Driver negligence
Many accidents are preventable because they are due to driver error and/or negligence. Examples include the following:
- Impairment
- Drowsiness
- Distraction
- Speeding
- Failure to yield to the right of way
When another driver is at fault for the accident, his or her insurance company may be accountable for paying for medical costs and the injured party’s other related expenses.
Lack of proper restraint
Seat belts save lives, and yet people still choose not to wear them or make their children wear them. The CDC reports that 35% of the children under 12 years old who died in traffic accidents in 2017 were not wearing a seat belt. Even when parents restrain their children in vehicles, they may do so incorrectly, as is common with infant car seats.
Physical development
Seat belts and car seats are especially vital for children because they are still developing physically. They are more susceptible to severe injuries following a collision, such as a traumatic brain injury. Children who are too small for sitting in the front of the car may sustain great harm from an airbag deploying.
Driving will continue to be a part of everyday life, so it is important to do your part in keeping your children safe.
