Children injuries by traffic accidents in Spain: the magnitude of a preventable problem

Injuries are the main cause of child death in Europe. The mortality rate is twice the cancer?s mortality, and eight times higher than respiratory diseases?. Although it remains the main cause of mortality in Spain, the trend of traffic accidents involving children has descended during the recent past years. The number of accidents involving children has fallen by 25% in the last 10 years. This review describes the characteristics of traffic related child fatality, the main factors related to the problem and the most effective preventive measures: the correct use of child restraints systems (CRS) and helmets and the construction of specific lanes and ?traffic-calming areas? for vulnerable road users. Finally, we describe some useful recommendations for use in child health counselling, which has been shown efficient to promote the use of CRS when it is associated with free-distribution interventions.