Safety restraints include seat belts, booster and child seats and are a highly effective way of reducing serious and fatal injuries to children. Child restraints work primarily by restraining children in the event of a crash. The chance of being killed or severely injured is about seven times greater for children who are not belted or restrained. 83% of belted and restrained children remain uninjured in accidents. A crash at 50 km/h without a child restraint system is like a 10-meter fall for a child. An 8 year old child with a weight of 30 kg will be thrown forward with a force 25 times of its body weight (i.e. 750 kg). If unbelted, children may strike parts of the car interior during a crash as they move within the car. Often a car door or a window breaks during the impact of a crash through which an unbelted child is more likely to be thrown out. Without a child seat even a crash at only 15 km/h can be lethal. Seat belt wearing rates can be improved through the implementation of existing legislation and preparation of the new legislation. This occurs through a mixture of measures including police enforcement and education and information.
Abstract