The Children’s Memorial Research Center published a report and Data Brief analyzing injuries to children and adolescents as a result of motor vehicle crashes.  The report looks at hospitalization rates and deaths across the state and within the City of Chicago.  The data analyzed include injuries to individuals riding in the car (occupant injuries) and individuals who are hit by a car (pedestrian injuries).  Bicycle injures are not included (see the earlier Child Health Data Lab Data Brief titled “Sports-Related Injuries”).

Noteworthy findings of the report include:

• Although the death rate has remained somewhat steady, the hospitalization rate for children and adolescents resulting from motor vehicle injuries has declined since 2000.
• Boys are about 50 percent more likely to be hospitalized for a motor vehicle crash than girls, especially for pedestrian injuries.
• Adolescents (15 to19 years of age) are more than three times as likely as younger children to be hospitalized from a motor vehicle crash.
• The Marion, IL and Edwardsville, IL regions have the highest rate of motor vehicle crash hospitalizations.
• In Chicago, pedestrian injury is the leading cause of motorvehicle crash hospitalization.