Motor vehicle accidents kill more Americans under the age of 33 years than any other cause, and auto accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for people of all ages. Proper use of vehicle occupant restraints (lap-and-shoulder belts, safety seats, and booster seats) reduces fatality risk by 45 to 70 percent.
Over the past ten years, legislation, enforcement, and community-based educational programs have contributed significantly to trends in the use of occupant restraints. Nearly 80 percent of adults use seat belts. Child safety seats are employed 90 percent of the time, and booster seat use is increasing. Unfortunately, improper use of safety seats and booster seats is common, reducing the efficacy of these devices substantially.
Injury Prevention Requires Proper Use
The injury-preventing benefits of occupant restraints in the event of motor vehicle crashes are indisputable. However, if restraints are not used correctly, the likelihood of serious trauma or death rises dramatically. For optimal benefit, child safety seats and booster seats must be age- and weight-appropriate, and they must be installed correctly:
- Infants under one year of age who weigh less than 20 pounds should be secured in rear-facing, infant-only safety seats, or in convertible seats positioned in the back seat.
- Infants under one year of age weighing between 20 and 35 pounds should be placed in rear-facing convertible seats positioned in the back seat.
- Child safety seats designed to be rear-facing must not be placed in the front passenger seat of any vehicle equipped with a passenger airbag; death or serious injury can result from deployment of the airbag against the safety seat.
- Toddlers who are one to four years of age and who weigh 20 to 40 pounds should be restrained in a forward-facing convertible seat or forward-facing-only child safety seat that is installed in the back seat.
- Young children from four to eight years of age who are up to 4 feet 9 inches tall should be secured in a booster seat installed in the back seat.
- For children beyond the age of eight years or the height of 4 feet 9 inches, lap-and-shoulder belt use is recommended.
- Due to the dynamics of front-seat airbag deployment, children younger than 13 years should be secured in the back seat.
Continuing Efforts
Proper use of seat belts, car seats, and booster seats improves the safety of children who are passengers in motor vehicles. Community-based and public health interventions—including legislative action, law-enforcement programs, media campaigns, new-parent education, and car seat distribution programs—have all proven effective in improving the use of occupant restraint devices.
For more information, go to: AAP's Car Seat Guide
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