Protection of children in the car
June 2005

The importance of protecting children from traffic related hazards is huge, provided that more children loose their life or have permanent disabilities because of them, than from any other cause.

Unfortunately according to data from international statistics, society in general and parents in particular don't make enough in order to provide to children the necessary protection and safeguards against car accidents.

Among children fatally injured in car accidents, statistics show that from 65% to 70% were not correctly placed in special seats for their age and even worst they had no safety belt.

In spite of these stunning data that show the importance of the preventive measures for children in the car, it is worrisome to see that statistics show that less than 10% of children of 5 till 8 years old are using the special booster seats that are mandatory for their age.

Another extremely alarming fact is that many children are allowed to sit in the front seats of the car. Research has shown that 25% of children are allowed to sit in the front seats for at least 50% of time.

Additionally data from 2000, show that 35% of children age 12 years and less that have lost their lives in car accidents, were sitting in the front row.

The risk for children sitting in the front row in case of collision is very high and originates from two sources. The front sits in case of collision are more dangerous, and additionally the air bag can cause severe injuries or even kill the child. The air bag can cause severe injuries and death to children even at accidents happening at low speed.

Current recommendations regarding children traveling in passenger vehicles equipped with passenger air bags are based, in part, on evidence that the air-bag–related risk of injury and death is higher for children ≤12 years of age. However, the age or body size required to allow a child to be seated safely in front of a passenger air bag is unknown.

To address this issue, researchers from the University of California, evaluated a large database of motor vehicle crashes involving 3,790 children, from 1 month to 18 years of age.

Their conclusion was that children up to 14 years of age may be at risk for serious preventable injury when seated in front of a passenger air bag, and children 15 to 18 years of age seem to experience protective effects of air-bag presence and deployment. Age may be a better marker than height or weight for risk assessment regarding children and air bags.

Additionally, parents should remember that they should never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of an air bag.

As soon as children are old enough not to need baby seats, they should be using special booster seats. They should continue using booster seats till the safety belt adapts well to their shoulders and waist. This happens usually when the height of the child is 1.45 m.

Booster seats are useful because they elevate the child allowing the safety belt to adapt well to their shoulders and waist. In this way children are better protected in case of accidents.

We have to stress out that children are more vulnerable and suffer more than adult even in accidents that occur at low speed.

The side air bags at the rear seats are still being investigated for their impact and effects on children in case of accidents.

In conclusion it is the duty and obligation of all parents to know well all security rules for their children when in the car. They should apply protective and preventive measures for every trip by car in order not to experience injuries or life losses that could have been prevented.

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