Fire & Rescue Department

Child Safety Seat Information

WHEN AND WHERE MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. Child safety seats and safety belts, when installed and used correctly, can prevent injuries and save lives. Unrestrained children are more likely to be injured, suffer severe injuries and die in motor vehicle crashes than children who are restrained.

75% of motor vehicle crashes occur within 25 miles of home. In addition, 60% of crashes occur on roads with posted speed limits of 40 mph or less.
Rural area have high motor vehicle crash incidence rates and death rates than urban areas. In addition, crashes in rural areas tend to be more severe.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Riding unrestrained is the greatest risk factor for death and injury among child occupants of motor vehicles. Among children ages 14 and under killed as occupants in motor vehicle crashes in 2000, 56% were not using safety restraints at the time of the collision.
Nearly 1/3 of children ride in the wrong restraints for their age and size.
The backseat is the safest place for children to ride. It is estimated that children 12 and under are 36% less likely to die in a crash if seated in the rear seat of a passenger vehicle, when compared to being seated in the front.

RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

Child safety seats are extremely effective when correctly installed and used in passenger cars, reducing the risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for children ages 1 to 4.
Adult safety belts do not adequately protect children ages 4 to 8 (about 40 to 80 lbs.) from injury in a crash
It is estimated that 83% of children ages 4 to 8 ride improperly restrained in adult safety belts.
Safety restraints afford the greatest protection against ejection from a vehicle during a crash. In 2000, nearly 80% of children who were ejected and killed in motor vehicle crashes were unrestrained.