Journal of Trauma and Injury

Original Articles

Changes in severe injuries of child and adolescent pedestrians in child protection zones after the revision of the Road Traffic Act in Korea: a retrospective nationwide observational study: Eun Sook Ryu, Jae Ho Jang, Jae Yeon Choi, Woo Sung Choi, Sung Youl Hyun; J Trauma Inj. 2025;38(4):366-372. Published online December 31, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2025.0255

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Purpose
This study aimed to analyze changes in injury severity among child pedestrians following the implementation of the revised Road Traffic Act (the "Minsik Law") in Korea’s child protection zones on March 25, 2020.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis using the nationwide Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) database. The pre-amendment period (January 2018 to February 2020; n=1,480) was compared with the post-amendment period (March 2021 to December 2023; n=1,085) for pedestrian accident patients under 13 years of age, applying a 1-year washout period to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome was severe injury, defined as an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of ≥15. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the assessment.
Results
A total of 2,565 patients were included. The proportion of severe injuries (ISS ≥15) decreased from 63.1% to 53.6% after the amendment, although this trend did not reach statistical significance (P=0.085). However, after adjustment for age, sex, and other variables, multivariate analysis showed that the post-amendment period was independently associated with a significant 38.4% reduction in the odds of severe injury (adjusted odds ratio, 0.616; P<0.001). A significant shift in the distribution of injury sites was also noted (P<0.005).
Conclusions
The revision of the Road Traffic Act was significantly associated with reduced injury severity among child pedestrians in Korea. These findings provide strong evidence supporting the policy’s effectiveness in improving clinical outcomes and strengthening child safety.

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Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

What Drives Children’s Satisfaction? An Integrated Assessment of Walking School Commuting Environments in Nanjing Using FCE and SEM
Zhiying Quan, Melasutra Md Dali, Rosilawati Zainol
Child Indicators Research.2026; 19(5): 2949. CrossRef

Comparison of Injuries Related with All-Terrian Vehicles (ATVs) and Motorcycles (MCs): Nam Ho Kim, Myung Deok Kim, Tae Hun Lee, Moo Eob Ahn, Jung Yeol Seo, Jae Sung Lee, Dong Won Kim, Jung Ryul Lee, Sang Heon Park, Yu min Kim; J Korean Soc Traumatol. 2010;23(2):128-133.

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Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
All-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries have increased since the introduction of ATVs to Korea. The purpose of this study is to compare patients with ATV-related injuries (PATV) to patients with motorcycle (MC)-related injuries (PMC).
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of PATV and PMC who visited an emergency center in 2008. The cases of PMC were 164, and those of PATV were 52.
RESULTS
While PMC are seen evenly in the first half year and the second half year, PATV are seen mainly the first half year (from March to June: 73%). For PMC the most frequent injury mechanism was collision with another vehicle, while for PATV, it was side overturn/roll over. The injury severity score (ISS), the revised trauma score (RTS), the trauma score and the injury severity score (TRISS) were 5.6+/-5.6, 7.7+/-0.7, 5.0+/-2.1 for PMC and 7.1+/-7.5, 7.7+/-1.1, 5.5+/-1.5 for PATV, respectively. The most common injury sites were the lower extremities for PMC and the face for PATV. The rates of admission, surgery and the length of hospital stay were similar between PMC and PATV.
CONCLUSION
This study shows that the risk of ATV accidents is similar to that of MC accidents. We recommend that the same safety standards and regulations that are applied to MCs should be used for ATVs. Safe and enjoyable paths have to be sought for drivers of ATVs.; Summary

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