Children may spend hours in motor vehicles every week. Even when parents are cautious about their children’s safety, children are at risk whenever they are on the road.
September 21st through the 27th is National Child Passenger Safety Week. It is a time when government agencies and local news outlets may pay special attention to the risks that children face in motor vehicle collisions. Learning the three facts below can benefit parents who want to ensure that their children are as safe as possible.
1. Crashes are a top cause of death
Motor vehicle collisions are one of the most common causes of preventable mortality in the United States. That is as true for children as it is for retired adults. According to federal traffic collision statistics, two children under 14 died every day on average in 2023 due to car crashes. Another 345 sustained significant injuries. The statistic only accounts for passenger vehicles, not commercial vehicles such as school buses.
2. Appropriate restraints are critical
The design process for vehicle safety restraints focuses on the average adult male, not small children. Parents generally need to ensure that their children can use appropriate safety restraints, including rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats and booster seats for older children. Doing so consistently, regardless of the child’s attitude about using a booster seat, could potentially save their life in the event of a crash.
3. Issues can prevent child seats from helping
Sometimes, parents put their children in specialized safety restraints, only for the restraint to fail during a crash. Frequently, this tragic outcome is the result of improper installation. Many fire departments and medical facilities offer assistance with installing and inspecting the installation of child safety seats. Parents should also make a point of replacing seats involved in a collision, even a minor fender bender. The stress of a crash can compromise the structural integrity of the seat and the materials used to manufacture it.
Understanding the risks that child passengers face is important all the time, not just during a federal awareness event. Should a car crash occur despite the best attempts of parents to keep their children safe, it may be possible to see compensation for medical expenses and other losses.
