The main findings of a recent survey conducted in Spain (totalling 1011 questionnaires) analyzing within the crash environment in rural areas the use and effectiveness of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) are described in this paper. A total of 15 items of information were included in the questionnaire covering information about the crash, vehicle and road type, principal direction of force, seating position, injury outcome (severity and injured body region), injury source and airbag interaction, other occupants' morbidity and CRS use. The survey showed that almost one out of four crashes was a rollover and that head-on collisions are still the most frequent crash mode (44 percent). Overall CRS use rate in the sample was very low, around 37%, meaning that non-use of child restraints is still a major issue for concern in Spain. Only 21% of the children were uninjured while 59% suffered from minor injuries. The survey includes seven cases with airbag interaction, whose particularities are discussed in some detail, though neither major concerns nor new findings are raised with this regard. For the covering abstract see ITRD E825082.
Samenvatting