Local Infrastructure and Economy Predicts Traffic Related Fatalities in Children

In brief

This epidemiological study examines how community-level factors—walkability indices, population density, school distribution, social vulnerability, and food access—predict pediatric motor vehicle fatality risk at the county level. Findings may inform targeted injury prevention strategies in high-risk communities.

• Local infrastructure metrics (walkability, population density, school density) predict pediatric traffic fatality risk at the county level.
• Social Vulnerability Index and food area deprivation are associated with higher rates of child motor vehicle deaths.
• County-level environmental and economic factors may be more predictive than individual crash characteristics for prevention strategies.
• Communities with poor walkability infrastructure face elevated risk for pediatric traffic fatalities.
• Targeting high-risk counties identified by infrastructure and socioeconomic data could improve pediatric injury prevention efforts.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.