Use of restraint systems by preschool children in cars.

Many deaths and injuries would be prevented if children in cars were adequately restrained. Cars were stopped at random and the use of child car seats by 853 children aged between 6 months and 4 years was ascertained. One hundred and thirty-three (65%) of the children aged between 6 and 11 months were travelling in seat restraints. Thirty-five (30%) of the children aged between 3 and 4 years were similarly restrained. Thus there was a significant decline in the use of child car seats within the age range for which they are suitable. There are several possible explanations for this finding and it is suggested that not only should efforts be made to encourage parents to provide car restraints for their infants but that attention should be focused on the reasons for this decline in the use of seat restraints.