Is your child in the right seat?
Are you sure you’re giving your child the best chance of surviving a car accident?
Is your child properly restrained? (Image courtesy of Carsguide)
Because according to a new study the chances are your child seat or booster seat is being used incorrectly.
The US study, undertaken by University of Michigan, found only a small percentage of children are actually properly restrained.
The researchers observed nearly 22,000 children and what they found was alarming to say the least.
In findings that would likely be replicated in Australia, they found only 3% of children aged between 1 and 3 were sitting in a proper, rear-facing car seat and only 10% of 8 to 10 year olds were properly restrained in a booster seat or a car seat.
It was also found that only 2% of children over 7 were seated in a booster seat, and by ages 8 to 10, a quarter of kids were already sitting in the front seat.
To find the correct child and booster seat information for your family check the website of the government motoring authority in your state or territory.
Joel Helmes
