Automobile Accidents: Potential Years of Life Lost
1 Behavioral Sciences Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City
Regular readers of Pediatrics have been kept apprised of advancements in the prevention of childhood deaths and injuries from automobile accidents. The American Academy of Pediatrics initiated the "First RideA Safe Ride," which has endorsed programs ranging from prenatal education of parents to state legislation.
In March 1982, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta revised its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report to include "Potential Years of Life Lost by Cause of Death" (March 12, 1982;31:110). This is derived for persons aged 1 to 65 years at the time of death by taking the number of deaths in each age category as reported by the National Center for Health Statistics, Monthly Vital Statistics Report, multiplied by the difference between 65 years and the age at the midpoint of each category.




