CHILD PEDESTRIAN INJURIES IN THE CAPE METROPOLITAN-AREA - FINAL RESULTS OF A HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY

Over 12-month period 430 children under 14 years of age presented to R ed Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town having been inj ured as pedestrians, and 106 children who died from such injuries were registered at the regional state mortuary. Information about the circ umstances surrounding injury was obtained from the parents or guardian s of all children reporting to hospital and 48 (45,3%) of the fataliti es. Analysis of results revealed a strong relationship between pedestr ian injury and children playing or running errands in residential area s during daylight hours, particularly in the later part of the afterno on, Only 24,3% of all children were supervised by an adult at the time of injury, The pattern of behaviour described must be acknowledged in the planning of future road safety measures, The inconsistency of par ental supervision highlights the need to include adults in educational and awareness campaigns.