More children die in traffic accidents in Andalucia than the rest of Spain

ALMERIA has the second highest rate of deaths of children under 14 in traffic accidents in Spain, according to the Mapfre Foundation. A study carried out by Mapfre shows that between 2005 and 2008, 1,894 children were seriously injured in traffic accidents, 14,740 were slightly injured, and 263 were killed, 10 per cent of them under one year old.

The highest rate of deaths is in Andalucia, with 49, 2.4 per cent of the total in Spain, and 361 seriously injured. The province with the worst rates is Sevilla, with 11, and Almeria, with 10.

The study reveals that most of the children killed in road accidents were travelling for leisure, on normal roads (88 per cent) with light traffic, and were in a car or van (80 per cent). Most (63 per cent) were boys and were travelling on public holidays, during the day and in the summer months. The accidents were mainly caused by a distraction of the driver.

Forty per cent of the victims were not wearing seatbelts, and a further 40 per cent died less than 50 kilometres from their home, which is of extreme relevance considering that many parents use the excuse of only going a short distance for not using baby and child seats.

Less than 10 per cent of children involved in traffic accidents were passengers on motorbikes, less than seven per cent were on bicycles, and less than one per cent were on buses.

Children on bicycles or motorbikes are more likely to be only slightly injured (78 per cent of cases).

In case of a traffic accident, there is more chance of a child being injured than an adult. Only 23 per cent of children who have been involved in accidents have come out of the experience unharmed.