This paper describes the type of injuries sustained by children and young teenagers in road accidents and suggests ways of preventing such accidents. Children often run across a road on impulse, uncontrolled; many child cyclists who are injured were not wearing helmets; vehicle speeds are too high in high-risk areas. In car passengers, injuries are caused by lack of restraint or the use of unsuitable (adult) restraints. Another area considered is that of young teenagers, where very serious injuries or deaths are caused in accidents involving overloaded cars, unrestrained passengers and under-age drivers. Drugs and alcohol abuse are also factors. The use of electronic driver recognition technology to reduce the frequency of this type of accident is considered.
Samenvatting