Final answer:
The number of children under age 4 killed in vehicle crashes varies yearly and is part of a broader statistic of infant vulnerability in accidental deaths, where infants have an incident rate of 20.6 per 1,000. Vehicle accident prevention involves proper usage of safety devices like car seats. Globally, child mortality due to various factors displays significant regional disparities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The specific number of children under age 4 killed in vehicle crashes each year can vary, but the broader statistics can be informative. For instance, according to the data provided, though the total number of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes has been generally decreasing from 2004 to 2011, young children, especially infants (children less than one year old), remain a highly vulnerable population with an incident rate of 20.6 per 1,000 infants. This high vulnerability is in part due to their complete dependence on parental care and appropriate safety measures, such as car seats.
Additionally, the general trend in accidental deaths from motor vehicle crashes indicates that such incidents have been overtaken by drug overdoses as leading causes since 1999; however, motor vehicle accidents remain a significant concern for child safety. To prevent these tragedies, it is crucial to follow strict safety protocols, including proper use of child car seats and restraints.
Globally, child mortality rates show significant regional disparities, with developing regions experiencing higher death rates among children under five years of age. This discrepancy points towards a complex interaction of factors like healthcare availability, socioeconomic conditions, and road safety measures that impact child safety differently across the world.