Press release

29 August 2008

The number of road crash casualties among children younger than fourteen has decreased considerably during the last decades. In 2005, 30 children in this age group were killed in traffic. In the late 1980s the annual number of fatalities was approximately 120. The decrease for this age group is larger than for other age groups. Their increased safety cannot be attributed to the fact that children had a lower traffic participation.

In an extensive crash analysis and literature study SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research made an inventory of children's traffic situation, looked at existing problems, and investigated possible measures.

The decrease of the number of road deaths and in-patients among children younger than fourteen may be the result of a combination of measures taken in the fields of  environmental planning, urban development, infrastructure, vehicles, safety devices, information, and education. The Sustainable Safety programme in particular and the construction of Zones 30 have contributed to children's road safety. The improvements of passenger car safety and an increased use of child support seats and seatbelts by children have probably also made a contribution.

The report states that children participate in traffic as pedestrian, cyclist, or car passenger. Most of the casualties among the under-14s, both fatalities and in-patients, are cyclists. In fatal crashes with cyclists, motor vehicles are the main crash opponent. Also lorries and vans are relatively often the adversary. In the report SWOV therefore recommends making further study of the large involvement of lorries and vans in crashes with children. SWOV also proposes to further investigate children's playing behaviour in the streets, because the official mobility data does not take this into account.

Cyclists in the ages from 6 to 14 are relatively often involved in serious crashes. Head injury, including severe brain damage, is relatively frequent. Wearing a bicycle helmet would be an effective measure for these road users. In addition, parents should be made more aware of the positive effect of wearing a helmet. SWOV finds good public information a way to stimulate wearing a bicycle helmet.