In a survey conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among children aged 14 years and younger. According to an estimate, car crashes kill at least 1,400 children every year in the country.
In a survey conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among children aged 14 years and younger. According to an estimate, car crashes kill at least 1,400 children every year in the country.
With the magnitude of the problem, most states require parents to place their children in car seats which are appropriate with their age and size. Several studies show these special seats can effectively reduce fatal injuries by more than 50 percent.
In 2006, the CDC conducted a study which revealed that 425 children aged 5 years and younger were saved from federally-approved booster seats.
Child Passenger Safety
According to an estimate, 4 children die from car crashes every day in the US. More than two-thirds of them were riding with a drunk driver at the time of the accident. With this finding, many states have adopted a strict DUI law that prevents people to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.8 percent and higher.
Meanwhile, a recent government study shows there is a significant relation between the use of driver’s seat belt and child restraints. According to the finding, approximately 40 percent of children riding with unbelted drivers were also not sitting on their booster seats or child restraints.
If this finding is not alarming enough, another study also reveals that 72 percent of 3,500 observed family cars were incorrectly using booster seats and child restraints, thus further increasing the risk of injuries and deaths among children.
When used correctly, child safety seats can reduce crash deaths by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers aged 1 to 4 years old.
To make sure that parents will buy the most appropriate safety seats for their children, they should bring their cars to the store so the seller can help them choose the suitable child seat. Parents should also tell the weight and age of their children to the seller.
Child Seat Law
To promote the use of child seats, most states have implemented a law that requires parents to place their children on booster seats and restraints. Also, other organizations have use media campaigns to spread awareness on child safety in cars.
Aside from a mandatory child seat law, most states also prohibit all children aged 12 years and younger from riding in the front seat. This law was based on a study showing that children in the back seat were 40 percent less likely to die from a car crash than in front seat.
