Citation

Reeve KN, Zurynski YA, Elliott EJ, Bilston L. Med. J. Aust. 2007; 186(12): 635-638.

Affiliation

Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia. apsu@chw.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Australian Medical Association, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17576180

Abstract

About a thousand Australian children are seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents each year, despite 92% using seatbelts or child restraints. Premature graduation of children to adult seatbelts, misuse of seatbelts and use of lap-only belts increase the risk of injury or death. In Australia, use of a child restraint or booster seat is not mandatory for children aged > 1 year, while other countries mandate their use for children up to 5-12 years old. Australian parents are confused about the safest restraint and seating position, particularly for children aged > 2 years. Australian child restraint legislation needs to be reviewed to increase the rate of optimal restraint use.

Language: en