A matched case-control study evaluating the effectiveness of speed humps in reducing child pedestrian injuries

Am J Public Health. 2004 Apr;94(4):646-50. doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.4.646.

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the protective effectiveness of speed humps in reducing child pedestrian injuries in residential neighborhoods.

Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study over a 5-year period among children seen in a pediatric emergency department after being struck by an automobile.

Results: A multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that speed humps were associated with lower odds of children being injured within their neighborhood (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.47) and being struck in front of their home (adjusted OR = 0.40). Ethnicity (but not socioeconomic status) was independently associated with child pedestrian injuries and was adjusted for in the regression model.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that speed humps make children's living environments safer.

MeSH terms

  • Accident Prevention*
  • Accidents, Traffic* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Accidents, Traffic* / mortality
  • Accidents, Traffic* / prevention & control
  • Accidents, Traffic* / statistics & numerical data
  • Automobile Driving* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Automobile Driving* / statistics & numerical data
  • Bias
  • California / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child Welfare / statistics & numerical data*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Pediatric / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Insurance, Health
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Population Surveillance
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Risk Factors
  • Safety Management / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Safety Management / methods*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Urban Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Walking*