The Cochrane Injuries Group estimates that each year more than a million people die worldwide and perhaps 10 million are permanently disabled in traffic crashes. The British Medical Journal has released a special theme issue: “War on the roads”. Relevant articles address sleepiness among drivers, seat belt use, child pedestrians, safer road design, traffic laws, and air bags. Available at http://bmj.com/content/vol324/issue7346/ or order for £5; tel +44 (0)20 7383 6270. (

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What happens after children are injured in traffic crashes? Researchers at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia interviewed children who were hospitalized for treatment of traffic crash related injuries and their parents. More than 80% of children and parents had symptoms of acute stress disorder. More parents reported distress when their children were injured as pedestrians, and fewer reported distress when their children were injured in bicycle falls. The results are published in the electronic pages of Pediatrics. Available at http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/109/6/e90. (

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Sports related concussions occur regularly in popular activities such as football, soccer, and ice hockey. An international symposium held November 2001 in Vienna, Austria, has resulted in a Concussion in Sport Group paper that is available for review. …