Volume 1, No. 4, 2007
Received: 2008/08/27, Accepted:
Authors:
H.M.N. Al-Madani;
Abstract:
This study attempts to test hypotheses related to child pedestrian casualties as per their parental living conditions
as being together, separated, living without mothers or without fathers. These are analyzed according to the
children age, sex and injury severity. The necessary data are taken from questionnaires administered by
Directorate of Traffic in Bahrain. The questionnaires are filled out on scene by accident investigators for every
pedestrian crash spread over a period of eight years. The actual traffic crash records were categorized according
to the investigated characteristics considering their expected risk. The former frequencies were categorized
according to the necessary investigated characteristics. Furthermore, they were compared to those expected as
per their percentage presence in the society. The data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square tests to
compare the actual crash frequencies to those expected in each subcategory. The findings revealed that children
who are under 15 years of age and living with both parents are less exposed to traffic crashes compared to those
living in families without mothers. Living with separated parents also leads to higher exposure to accidents. The
effect of the latter on children exposure to crashes is even greater than living without fathers. While the absence
of mothers from home increases the vulnerability of young male children who are under 15 years to traffic
crashes, the absence of fathers increases the vulnerability of those who are between 16 to 20 years. Vulnerability
of female children to crashes showed no significant differences for different living conditions. Many factors
contribute in traffic crashes involving young pedestrians. The above findings assist the officials for better
utilization of the resources in the field of traffic safety education, engineering solutions, roadway improvements
and law enforcement.
Keywords:
Children Pedestrians, Vulnerability, Crash Exposure Rate, Parental Status, Sex.