An investigation was made of traffic accidents in which children have been killed as car passengers in Denmark in 1963-1972. A total of 175 children aged 0 - 14 years were killed. Results showed that large numbers of 1 - 3 year old children were killed and are therefore especially at risk as car passengers. 40 percent of the children killed were in the front seat. The investigation supports the presumption, that putting children on the front seat is more dangerous than putting them on the rear seat. 60 percent of the cars were involved in a single collision, of which less than half were frontal. 40 percent of the children were ejected from the car. 20 percent were thrown around in the car and 10 percent were squeezed in the car. Head lesions are the predominant cause of death in all age groups. 40 pct. Of the cars showed little damage to the interior. Children should be restrained as car passengers, because restraint prevents children from causing accidents and because in 40 percent of the accidents only little or no cabin damage was found. Restraint systems which allow children to face the driving direction are better than no restraint system at all.
Abstract