Citation

Kallan MJ, Arbogast KB, Elliott MR, Durbin DR. Inj. Prev. 2009; 15(1): 8-12.

Affiliation

Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/ip.2008.019224

PMID

19190269

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the fatal and non-fatal crash injury risk for children in minivans compared with midsize and large sport utility vehicles (SUVs). DESIGN: Three large population-based sources of US crash data were used-a nationwide cohort of sampled police-reported crashes (NASS-CDS) along with a census of fatal crashes (FARS), plus a large child crash surveillance system, Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS)-collected in 16 states via insurance claim records and validated telephone survey. Each included: 2000-2006 data, occupants aged 0-15 years, traveling in minivan or (midsize/large) SUV, model year 1998-2007. Outcome of interest was parent/driver report of non-fatal injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale scores of 2 or higher) in PCPS and fatal injury in NASS-CDS/FARS. RESULTS: Compared with children riding in SUVs, those in minivans experienced a similar crude reduction in the relative risk of non-fatal injury (PCPS: unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.55) and fatality (NASS-CDS/FARS cohort: unadjusted OR = 0.58). In PCPS, this reduction in injury risk changed little after adjustment for child, driver, and vehicle factors (adjusted OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.82). Lower fatality risk in the NASS-CDS/FARS cohort was partially explained by the same factors (adjusted OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.13). CONCLUSIONS: There may be important safety differences in vehicles during a crash that lead to fewer non-fatal injuries to child occupants of minivans compared with SUVs.

Language: en