Car crashes are the leading safety issue for children. According to the latest figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 183,000 children were injured in car crashes in 2018. That’s an average of more than 500 injuries per day.
“Many of these injuries and deaths are preventable if the children are properly restrained in the vehicle,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Children are far more susceptible to injuries in crashes than adults, because their little bodies have not fully developed. The best way to provide optimal safety is to ensure your child is properly fastened in the right car seat on every ride.”New data from AAA and the National Safety Council reveals:
“Even parents with the best intentions may unknowingly be endangering their children by putting them in the wrong seat or not securing them properly,” said Jenkins. “Since car seat recommendations can vary, AAA urges parents to take a moment to ensure their child is setup for a safe ride.”
Caregivers increasingly overlook safety standards as child growsAccording to new data from the National Digital Car Seat Check Form, more than half of all car seats brought in for inspection to child passenger safety technicians are improperly installed and used. Yet, only 1 in 5 parents and caregivers seek expert help installing a car seat or securing a child in a car seat, according to a NDCF consumer survey.
Unfortunately, parents and caregivers are even less likely to seek car seat inspections as children grow into forward-facing and booster car seats. Child passenger safety technicians inspect about four times the amount of rear-facing car seats than they do forward-facing car seats, and 73 percent of forward-facing seats are not correctly installed.Don’t Change Seats Too EarlyUnfortunately, children are often transitioned out of the appropriate car seats before it is safe to do so.More than a quarter of children are moved from forward-facing car seats to booster seats too soon, and more than 90 percent of children using lap-and-shoulder seat belts under the age of 10 should still be in a car seat or booster seat.
“Our goal is to provide information and tools that can help improve child passenger safety," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. "We urge parents and caregivers to educate themselves and look for free resources, such as a virtual or in-person car seat inspection in their area.”
Boost Your Child Passenger Safety Knowledge and Skills
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