Children and babies will sustain less injury and survive death in car accidents if secured in a car safety seat, a recent study has revealed.

According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, car safety seats are 71 per cent effective in reducing deaths for infants and 54 per cent effective in reducing deaths for children ages one to four years. 

Parents’ bad driving habits can greatly increase the risk of serious injury to toddlers and children, according to Fadi Abuhamdeh, Middle East area director of  Chicco, a children’s safety products brand.

“You may have seen family members hold babies on their laps either in the front seat or in the back seat, this is not a safe practice,” he said. “It might be a generational attitude inherited from parents or grandparents, but it is actually endangering youngsters.”

In the UAE, despite stringent road safety measures and awareness campaigns introduced by the police and RTA, road accidents are the biggest killer of children. Ministry of Health statistics show that over 6,146 children were involved in car accidents from 2001 to 2007.

UAE law makes it compulsory for drivers to wear seat belts and outlaws children under 10 from sitting in the front seat of a car. However, there is currently no legal obligation to use child car safety seats.

“Road accidents are the biggest child killer in the UAE, but many of these deaths can be prevented. Placing children in the back seat could reduce the risk of serious injury by 40 per cent. Moreover, using age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half,” added Abuhamdeh.

According to him, a child’s age and weight are important in deciding which seat to use to give children the best chance of escaping injury in the event of a collision. He adds: “Always remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully - make sure your child car seat is fitted firmly in the car.” – TradeArabia News Service