Drowning Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children age 14 and under. In young children, the majority of deaths result from fatal head injuries.
Children are particularly at risk from death and injury as occupants in motor vehicles.
Before transporting children, child care providers must get permission from parents. Whenever children are transported under your care, one restraint per child should be used and the restraint should be age and weight appropriate. In 1996, more than 305,000 children age 14 and under were injured in motor vehicle-related crashes. Children age 4 and under accounted for more than one-fourth of these injuries. The greatest risk factor for motor vehicle occupants is riding unrestrained.