Slow down and take care.
That’s the message that doctors and nurses at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) are hoping to convey to South Australian drivers following the release of alarming new data on the number of young people being hospitalised for road injuries.
The hospital’s paediatric trauma service has treated more than 470 children since 2023 for injuries suffered on South Australian roads, including serious pelvic fractures, liver and spleen injuries and leg bone fractures, as well as moderate to severe brain injuries.
So far this year, 102 children have presented to the WCH for road trauma injuries, following 187 children last year and 184 the year before.
Of the 473 children treated at WCH for road trauma since 2023:
- 293 children were injured in single or multiple-vehicle crashes
- 91 children were hit by cars as pedestrians
- 41 children were hit by cars on their bicycles.
Trauma data shows the highest overall rate of incidents occurs in young people aged 15 to 24 – with crashes significantly increasing as young drivers transition from a learner’s permit to provisional licence.
Younger children are also vulnerable to car injuries, often involved in incidents with moving vehicles in low-speed areas such as driveways, yards and car parks.
Sadly, one child is run over in their driveway every week in Australia.
To keep children and young people safe on the road:
- talk with children about traffic and road safety and set a good example
- encourage safe driving habits – no speeding and no distractions
- supervise children whenever a vehicle is being moved, especially near driveways, yards, and car parks
- teach basic road safety rules like stopping to look and listen for traffic
- use proper car seats and booster seats.
Women’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatric Surgeon Dr Michael Ee said in the past year staff had seen "too many children come through our doors with incredibly serious injuries as a result of road incidents".
"Instead of being at school or socialising with their friends, they’re in hospital recovering from trauma injuries like fractures and liver and spleen ruptures," Dr Ee said.
"We urge everyone to be responsible on the road and around cars. Stay alert, teach children about road safety rules and share the road responsibly."
The WCH recently became the second paediatric hospital in the country to achieve formal Level 1 Trauma Verification from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
This accreditation acknowledges the high level of care the hospital is providing to trauma patients, as well as excellence in research and education.
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS
