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Driver characteristics involved in child and youth pedestrian motor-vehicle collisions (PMVC) and the built environment – a case control study

Author(s): Fridman, Pitt, Rothman, Howard, Hagel

Slidedeck Presentation Only:

3C_Fridman

Abstract:

Background/Context: Road traffic injuries are currently the leading cause of death in Canada. One third of individuals who die on the roads are children and a large proportion are pedestrians, making this a significant public health problem. Our objective was to study the relationship between driver and built environment (BE) characteristics and the risk of colliding with a child (<18 years) pedestrian.

Aims/Objectives: To examine the characteristics of
1) Drivers involved in a child pedestrian motor-vehicle collision (PMVC);
2) The BE in which child PMVCs occur.

Methods/Targets: We used a modified quasi-induced exposure approach to examine driver characteristics associated with PMVCs. Using police reported traffic collisions, we examined characteristics of drivers involved in child PMVCs (cases) in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta from 2010 to 2015. The characteristics of these drivers were compared, using unconditional logistic regression, with drivers who were involved in a motor vehicle only collision, but were assessed to be not at fault for the collision (controls). To assign responsibility for the driver crashes that involved two or more vehicles, we used an Alberta adaptation of a Canadian culpability scoring tool. This not at fault group of drivers represent the source population of all drivers, allowing us to highlight differences between this group and drivers involved in a PMVC. We also examined features of the built environment in which these collisions occurred.

Results/Activities: Seven hundred ninety-three drivers collided with 826 pedestrians <18 years of age with the majority resulting in injury or fatality to the pedestrian (90.3%). Most child pedestrians who were struck by a motor vehicle were older, 10-17 years (n = 580, 70.2%) and male (n=447, 54.1%). One quarter of the involved drivers were 40-54 years old (n=200, 25.2%) and most child pedestrians were struck by the front of the vehicle (n=487, 61.4%). A multivariable logistic regression model demonstrated that younger drivers, 16-24 years old (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.62, 95% CI: 1.27 - 2.09), and older drivers, >55 years old (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.24 - 1.99) were more likely to be involved in a PMVC than middle aged adults (25 - 39 years and 40 - 54 years). Other significant findings included time of day between 06:01 - 09:00 (OR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.16 - 1.85) or 18:01 - 24:00 (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.30 - 2.17), no seatbelt use (OR=2.30, 95% CI: 1.09 - 4.85), having a child passenger in the vehicle (OR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.56 - 2.96), driver had been drinking' (OR=7.70, 95% CI: 2.85 - 20.86) and driver -fatigued/asleep/medical defect' (OR=27.15, 95% CI: 8.30 - 88.88).

Discussion/Deliverables: Higher risk age groups, certain time periods, impairment and distraction are all important risk factors to consider when examining child PMVCs.

Conclusions: Policy implications include 1) focusing on built environment features and 2) considering effective means of modifying driver risk behavior to potentially reduce collisions with vulnerable road users.