Child pedestrian casualties with special reference to casualties on the journey to or from school in Manchester and Salford, England.

There are two separate facets of the casualty rates for child pedestrians in Great Britain that require explanation. (1) The casualty rate for child pedestrians aged 11-14 years is higher than the rate for those aged 5-10 years. In Manchester and Salford the casualty rate for the older age group is higher for children on the journey to or from school but at nonschool times the casualty rate is lower for those aged 11-14 years than for those aged 5-10 years. It is suggested that the high casualty rate for older children is connected with the school journey, which is longer to secondary than to primary schools. (2) The casualty rate for the older age group has increased in recent years. Comparing the casualty rates at school and nonschool times in Manchester and Salford in 1969 and 1987 suggests that this increase is due to an increase in accidents on the school journey.