A Matched Case–Control Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of Speed Humps in Reducing Child Pedestrian Injuries

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.