Notice to Readers
National Child Passenger Safety Week -- February 8-14, 1998
February 8-14 is National Child Passenger Safety Week. During
1996, a total of 1701 children aged less than 15 years died as
passengers in motor-vehicle crashes in the United States (National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration {NHTSA}, unpublished data,
1996). This week focuses on efforts to improve the safety of
children riding in motor vehicles. Several specific actions should
be taken to help reduce injuries and death among child passengers.
All children riding in motor vehicles should be properly
restrained at all times. In 1996, a total of 938 (55%) child
passengers who died in motor-vehicle crashes were unrestrained
at
the time of the crash (NHTSA, unpublished data, 1996). In
addition,
many children are not restrained properly. In 1996, although
approximately 85% of infants and 60% of children aged 1-4
years
were restrained, almost 80% of child-safety seats were used
improperly (1). Rigorous adherance to the instructions for
child-safety seats and the recommendations provided in vehicle
owners' manuals will help to avoid mistakes when using
child-safety
seats. In addition, the following specific child-safety-seat
instructions will improve safety for child passengers:
Ensure harness straps are not twisted and provide a snug
fit by routing them through the correct seat slots behind
the
child's shoulders;
Position the harness retainer (chest) clip at the armpit
level of the child to hold the harness straps on the
shoulders; and
Properly use locking clip (within 6 inches from the
latchplate) on all vehicle safety belts that have a
sliding
latchplate (the latchplate locks into the buckle).
Efforts to protect children from drivers who drink should be
strengthened. In 1996, a total of 395 (23%) child passenger
deaths
involved a drinking driver; of these children, 259 (66%) were
in
the vehicle driven by the driver who had been drinking (NHTSA,
unpublished data, 1996). The legislatures of 21 states have
enacted
child endangerment laws that create a separate violation for
persons who drive while intoxicated with a child in the
vehicle
(2).
Children should be protected from air-bag-related injury. As
of January 1, 1998, a total of 12 children in rear-facing
child-safety seats and 38 other children have died while
riding in
the front seat as a result of injuries associated with
deployment
of air bags in motor-vehicle crashes of minor or moderate
severity
(Special Crash Investigation Program, NHTSA, unpublished data,
1998). In vehicles with passenger side air bags, all children
aged
less than or equal to 12 years should be placed in the back
seat in
age- and size-appropriate restraints. Riding in the back seat
is
safer for children regardless of whether vehicles are equipped
with
air bags.
The safety of child passengers is improved through the
combination of increased public education, strong child passenger
safety laws, and rigorous enforcement of these laws. Additional
information is available from the Office of Communications and
Outreach, NHTSA, 400 Seventh St., S.W., NTS-21, Washington, DC
20590; fax (202) 493-2062; or NHTSA World-Wide Web site at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov; and from CDC at http://www.cdc.gov.
References
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Patterns of
misuse of child safety seats: final report. Washington, DC: US
Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, 1996; report no. DOT-HS-808-440.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Rating the states, 1996. Irving,
Texas: Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 1997.
Disclaimer
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