Motor Vehicle Accidents are still the number one leading cause of child deaths from injuries in New York City

According to the 2008 New York second annual Child Fatality Report, a review of preventable fatalities among children ages one to twelve years, motor vehicle accidents are still the number one leading cause of child deaths from injuries in New York City.

Motor Vehicle Deaths

Motor vehicle accidents are the single leading contributor to child fatalities citywide and in last year's Child Fatality Report, this topic was the subject of a focused case review. The review found that rate of death among child passengers was seven times lower in the city than nationally, potentially due to less frequent car use. Driver inattention was the leading contributing factor to child motor vehicle-related deaths overall, though speeding and failure to yield were also key contributing factors. Local streets were the site of more than half of fatal accidents, and a disproportionate percentage of deaths occurred on arterial roads.

Many of the fatal pedestrian injuries reviewed in the report were due to children emerging from between parked vehicles, crossing against signals, and crossing midblock. The high frequency of fatal motor vehicle accidents near schools relates to the amount of time children spend near schools and the high density of schools across the city. As a result, the City Department of Transportation  has made recommendations for environmental improvements in more than 40% of fatal accident locations, such as sign replacement, refurbished crosswalks, and additional signage. Continued and expanded use of safety measures to reduce the risk of motor vehicle accidents, especially around schools, are also underway.

About the Annual Child Fatality Report

This report was produced by the Child Fatality Review Team, which was established in 2006 to review all preventable deaths among New York City children ages one to 12. The multi-disciplinary committee, mandated by Local Law 115, introduced by Speaker Quinn, includes representatives from the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), the Department of Education, the Health Department, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, and the Police Department, as well as pediatricians and child welfare advocates appointed by the Mayor, City Council, and the Public Advocate.