child passengers injured in alcohol-related crashes in san diego county

County of San Diego Division of Emergency Medical Services

EMS

Child Passengers Injured in Alcohol-Related Crashes in San

Diego County

Alan M. SmithJanace A. Pierce

Leslie Upledger RayPatricia A. Murrin

County of San Diego Health and Human Services AgencyDivision of Emergency Medical Services


EMS

Background

• San Diego County:– Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of

death and serious injury to children younger than 15.

• National Studies (Quinlan et al):– 24% of motor vehicle-related deaths in

children younger than 15 report alcohol involvement.

– 64% of children who died and 39% of children who were injured in alcohol-related crashes were passengers of an intoxicated driver.

JAMA. 2000 May 3; 283(17):2249-52


EMS

Research Questions

• How many children are injured while riding with an intoxicated driver?

• How does driver impairment impact restraint use of child passengers ?

• How does driver impairment impact the severity of injury to child passengers?

• At what time of day are child passengers injured or killed by impaired drivers?


EMS

Study Design

Retrospective study of alcohol/drug-related motor vehicle occupant (MVO) crashes with injuries to children under age 15.

Setting: San Diego County, 1996 - 1999


EMS

Data Source

• Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) – Motor Vehicle Occupant (MVO) Crashes – Injury or death of passenger under age 15 reported in crash– DUI crashes –

• Cause = alcohol or drug impairment, and• Party at fault impaired by alcohol or drugs.

– Time Period: 1996 through 1999.

• SWITRS data for San Diego County are maintained by the California Highway Patrol– Additional coding, geolocating performed by San Diego

County EMS


EMS

VICTIMS


EMS

Child Victims in Traffic Crashes, 1996 to 1999

All CrashesDUI-Related Crashes

Total Victims

0-14 Years9027 369

MVO 6256 (69%) 348 (94%)

MVO Passenger

6202 (69%) 341 (92%)

Victims Age 0-14 Years by Type of Crash

All Crashes

Other3%

n=9027

MVOPassenger

68%

Pedestrian17%

Pedalcycle12%

DUI Crashes

Other3%

n=369

MVOPassenger

92%

Pedalcycle2%

Pedestrian3%

Source: County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Division of Emergency Medical Services. SWITRS databases CY 1996 to 1999


EMS

Child MVO Passenger Victims by DUI Status of Driver at Fault

Non-DUI94%

Victim Driver Impaired

2%

Other Driver Impaired

4%

DUI6%



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Age Group of Victimby Party at Fault


29.10%

37.90%

20.60%

37.00%

33.00%

42.40%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

Victim Driver at Fault Other Driver at Fault

0 to 4 5 to 9 10 to 14


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Child Victim Restraint Use in DUI MVO Crashes by Party at Fault

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Restrained Unrestrained Unknown/Other

Perc

ent

Victim- Car Driver at FaultOther Driver at Fault

Source: County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Division of Emergency Medical Services. SWITRS databases CY 1996 to 1999.


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Child Passenger Victims in DUI MVO Crashes: Injury Severity by Party at Fault

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

Victim- Car Driver at Fault Other Driver at Fault

Perc

ent

of

Vic

tim

s

Killed Severe Injury

Other Visible Injury Complaint of Pain



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CRASHES


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Age of Party at Fault by DUI Status and Presence of Child Passengers

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

DUI withChild

DUI noChild

Non-DUIChild

Non DUIno Child

Not Stated

15 to 19

20 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 to 84

85 and older



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Gender of Party at Fault by DUI Status and Presence of Child Passengers

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

DUI with Child DUI no Child Non-DUI Child Non DUI noChild

Male Female



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Collision Type by DUI Status and Presence of Child Passengers

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

DUI withChild(n=88)

DUI noChild

(n=4500)

Non-DUIChild

(n=1746)

Non-DUIno Child

(n=37,495)

Head-on

Sideswipe

Rear-end

Broadside

Hit Object

Overturned

Other



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Hour When DUI MVO Crashes Occurred


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

0001

to 01

00

0101

to 02

00

0201

to 03

00

0301

to 04

00

0401

to 05

00

0501

to 06

00

0601

to 07

00

0701

to 08

00

0801

to 09

00

0901

to 10

00

1000

to 11

00

1101

to 12

00

1201

to 13

00

1301

to 14

00

1401

to 15

00

1501

to 16

00

1601

TO 1

700

1701

TO 1

800

1801

TO 1

900

1901

TO 2

000

2001

TO 2

100

2101

TO 2

200

2201

TO 2

300

2301

TO 0

000

Child Injured

All DUI


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Child Victims in DUI CrashesVersus Child Victims in All Crashes

• Six of every 100 children injured or killed in traffic crashes were injured in DUI crashes.

• 92 percent of children injured or killed in DUI crashes were passengers in motor vehicle occupant crashes.

• 69 percent of children injured or killed in all crashes were passengers in motor vehicle occupant crashes.


EMS

Findings: Child Passenger DUI Victims

• One-third of child passenger victims in DUI MVO crashes were passengers of the impaired driver.

• Child victims injured as passengers of the impaired driver were younger than those whose drivers were not impaired.

• Child passengers of impaired drivers were significantly (p=.03) less likely to wear active restraints than passengers in crashes where the other driver was at fault.


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Findings (Continued)

• Child passengers in the DUI driver’s car suffered more severe injuries than child passengers whose drivers were not under the influence.

• In contrast to DUI crashes overall, which peaked between 1:00 and 2:00 in the morning, DUI crashes involving children had their highest point between 6:00 and 7:00 in the evening.


EMS

Conclusions

• These findings emphasize the need to educate parents about the danger, not only to themselves, but also to their passengers, of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs also use bad judgement by carrying children in their car and by not ensuring that the children are properly restrained.


EMS

Acknowledgements

• The data collection efforts of the police and sheriffs throughout the County are gratefully acknowledged, as is the cooperation of State staff for providing the SWITRS data to San Diego County.


EMS

Contact Information

Alan M. SmithCounty of San Diego

Health and Human Services AgencyEmergency Medical Services

6255 Mission Gorge RoadSan Diego, CA 92120 (619) 285-6429 phone

(619) 285-6531 [email protected]

child passengers injured in alcohol-related crashes in san diego county

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