Aim of this study was to show typical accident characteristics of car to pedestrian accidents. Data´s origin were insurance records of the GDV, Munich, (German Insurance Association – Institute of Vehicle Safety). 1.200 car to pedestrian accidents were investigated by engineers and physicians. Evaluation was purely done in a descriptive way.

The number of fatally injured pedestrians in car to pedestrian collisions has been reduced by 6,2% in 2000 compared to the year 1991 in Germany, but for there are about 9000 fatally injured and 200.000 severely injured pedestrians and bicyclists in the EU a year. The most severe accidents (MAIS 4 and 6) happened during frontal impacts (84% and 88%). The proportion of more serious and fatal injuries was higher in older victims (31 years and over). Half of all pedestrians killed on German roads were at least 60 years of age. Children at the age of up to 10 years are more often involved in side impacts than people at the age of 30 years and over (35% versus 25%). The most severe injuries in adults were seen in accidents where impact includes the windshield and/ or the windshield frame. The body region mostly hit in children up to 10 years are head (44%) and upper leg (33%), in people over 10 years lower leg and knee (54%) followed by head (43%).

This data show that older pedestrians carry higher risk of injury in general traffic occurrence. Children are more often involved in pedestrian side impacts than grown-ups.