Child restraints and road safety
- Research Data and Statistics on the importance of Seatbelts / Child Restraints/ Baby Seats
- Understanding the way Seatbelts and Child Restraints / Baby Seats work
- Vehicle Restraints and Airbags
- Types of Seatbelts
- Protecting Child Passengers in the Vehicle
- Choosing the correct Child Restraints / Baby Seats/ Booster Seats
- Different Ages Groups and Child Restraints
- Indicators of good adult belt fit
- Legislation / Enforcement and Creating Awareness
Introduction to Child Restraints and Road Safety
Increasing motorization worldwide has brought more crashes and injuries to vehicle occupants, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. One of the most effective measures to protect occupants from injury in the event of a crash is the fitment and use of seat-belts and child restraints. Restraints save lives and reduce injury severity - all vehicle occupants should be appropriately restrained when travelling in a motor vehicle.
The seat-belt is the single most effective feature in a vehicle to reduce the severity of injury to the vehicle occupants that results from road traffic crashes. Article 7 of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968 states: “The wearing of safety belts is compulsory for drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, occupying seats equipped with such belts, save where exceptions are granted by domestic legislation.”
Failure to use a seat-belt is a major risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries among vehicle occupants. Passengers who do not wear seat-belts and have a frontal crash are most likely to suffer a head injury. It should also be noted that the financial burden of increased death and injury severity can have a major impact on the finances of the government and local communities who deal with road crash victims and their families in the aftermath of a crash.
Rates of seat-belt use vary greatly between countries, governed to a large extent by the type of laws that require seat-belts to be fitted in vehicles and cars, and the laws requiring them to be worn. In many low-income countries there is no requirement for belts to be fitted or used, and rates of use are therefore correspondingly low. For many of these countries there is significant potential for improvement in wearing rates of seatbelts and child restraints.
