Local Infrastructure and Economy Predicts Traffic Related Fatalities in Children
Topic overview
County-level analysis of 158 US counties reveals that poor walkability infrastructure predicts higher pediatric motor vehicle fatality rates, with each decile increase in walkability associated with 7% decreased mortality. Social vulnerability and population density also correlate with traffic deaths, suggesting infrastructure improvements could reduce child fatalities.
Key takeaways
- Counties with poor walkability infrastructure have significantly higher pediatric traffic fatality rates (7% decrease per decile improvement in walkability).
- Social vulnerability, food area deprivation, and low population/school density independently correlate with increased pediatric MVC mortality.
- Local infrastructure improvements (walkability, school density) offer actionable policy targets to reduce child traffic deaths at the county level.
- Traditional crash-focused interventions miss critical upstream factors: built environment and socioeconomic vulnerability predict pediatric MVC risk.
- 158 high-population US counties analyzed (2017-2021 FARS data) show infrastructure metrics outperform demographic factors in predicting fatalities.
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