Sharp fall in child deaths on the roads

Fewer children are being killed or injured on Irish roads, research reveals, but parents are being urged to put helmets on their children when cycling.

A comparison of two four-year periods — 1996 and 2000, and 2004 and 2008 — puts the decrease at 36%.

Child deaths and injuries decreased from 5,928 during the first four-year period to 3,659 in the second.

The study by Temple St Children’s Hospital in Dublin and the Road Safety Authority looked at collisions involving children under the age of 15 needing police assistance.

Researchers said the most significant decrease was the number of cycling injuries.

Child cyclist fatalities fell by 76% and there was a 68% reduction in cyclist injuries.

In contrast to previous years, none of the child cycling deaths during the 12-year period involved children under 10.

In only two confirmed cases were the children wearing helmets and both suffered minor injuries.

Consultant paediatrician at Temple St, Prof Alf Nicholson, welcomed the research. “The findings are hugely positive and there is no doubt that policy changes and concerted publicity campaigns in the intervening period have had a significant impact.”

He said it was vital that the safety message continued, with an emphasis on the use of bicycle helmets and proper child restraints.

The study found that car passenger fatalities among children fell 38%, from 69 to 44. Most were travelling in the rear passenger seat.

However, a large number of children continue to travel in the front seat. Over both periods studied, child restraint was less than 70%.

There were 1,232 child pedestrian injuries from 2004 to 2008 — more than one third of the total injury toll. Of the injuries sustained, 32 (2%) were fatal, 129 (10%) were serious, while 1,071 (88%) suffered minor injuries.

When the two timeframes were compared, pedestrian deaths had fallen from 48% and serious injuries had decreased by half.

RSA communications manager, Brian Farrell, said the research showed that people had become more safety conscious.

“I think the research mirrors the safety culture that has emerged in the past decade — people are being educated to use roads more safely and there is increased traffic enforcement.

“We would urge parents to continue to lead by example and teach good road user habits as early as possible.”

* www.rsa.ie