Fewer Children Injured in Motor Vehicles, More by Falls

Fewer children injured in motor vehicles, more by falls

4 October 2017 - Fewer children were seriously injured in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2014 than in 2004, Stats NZ said today.

Provisional data released today shows the rate for children (those aged under 15 years) seriously injured in motor-vehicle traffic crashes was 13.2 per 100,000 children in 2014, compared with 15.8 per 100,000 children in 2004. Serious injuries are fatalities and near-fatal injuries.

However, over the same period the rate for children seriously injured by falls has increased, from 16.0 per 100,000 children in 2004 to 22.9 in 2014.

"Behind the motor-vehicle figures we can see that fewer children are being injured as pedestrians and car occupants, even though there are more cars on the road,” government injury information manager Dan Oberhaus said.

Falls have been a major cause of children's injuries since the time series began in 2000. In 2004, falls and motor-vehicle crashes each accounted for about 20 percent of serious injuries to children. In 2014, falls accounted for 29 percent, motor-vehicle traffic crashes for 16 percent, and assaults for 8 percent of serious injuries to children.

Serious injury outcome indicators: 2000-16 has serious injury statistics for children, Māori, and the whole population.

ENDS

For more information about these statistics:

• Visit Serious injury outcome indicators: 2000-16

• See CSV files for download

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