New Data: Children Buckled Up At Record Levels, But Too Many Parents Still Placing Children in Front Seat

American Academy of Pediatrics Strongly Reaffirms Back Seats are Safer; Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign to Intensify Its Efforts

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- As the nation kicks off Child Passenger Safety Week, new data released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that record numbers of children are buckled up, but while 99 percent of infants, 94 percent of toddlers and 87 percent of 4 to 7 year-olds are riding restrained in vehicles, too many parents are still putting their children in the front seat.

The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend that children 12 and under ride properly restrained in rear seats. That includes infants in rear-facing seats, children in convertible seats, children in booster seats, or children restrained by seat belts. Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that rear seats are 35 percent safer.

"While we are extremely pleased that restraint use is up among children, we are genuinely concerned about the number of children riding in the front passenger seat," said Chuck Hurley, Executive Director of the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign of the National Safety Council. "The Campaign will be intensifying its efforts to communicate to parents that children are safer in back."

According to NHTSA, parents are putting 15 percent of infants ages 0-1, 10 percent of toddlers ages 1-3, and 29 percent of children ages 4-7 in the front seat, placing them at increased risk of serious injury or even death.

"We are heartened that restraint use has increased among children. Yet it is vitally important that all parents secure their children in the back seat. The back is always the safest place for kids to ride," said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge.

The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign reports that the air bag deployment related child fatality rate has declined 94 percent since 1996 -- despite a more than fivefold increase in the number of vehicles with passenger air bags. Child fatalities in crashes declined 10.7 percent over the same period. Safety advocates are truly concerned, however, that too many parents are continuing to put their children at increased risk by placing them in the front seat.

"While these data indicate progress, traffic crashes remain the leading cause of death for children," said Marilyn Bull, M.D., Chairperson of the Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "We must continue to educate parents that the much safer place for children is in the back seat, properly restrained."

Restraint estimates are based on the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which is conducted periodically by NHTSA. The latest survey was conducted during a 20-day period beginning on June 3, 2002. NHTSA data collectors observed 3,500 children at 1,100 intersections throughout the U.S. NHTSA has been gathering NOPUS statistics on restraint use since 1994.

The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, a program of the National Safety Council, is a public/private partnership of automotive manufacturers, insurance companies, child safety seat manufacturers, government agencies, health professionals and child health and safety organizations. The goal of the Campaign is to increase the proper use of safety belts and child safety seats and to inform the public about how to maximize the lifesaving capabilities of air bags while minimizing the risks.

Source: Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign

CONTACT: John Chambers of Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign,
+1-202-338-8700, or cell, +1-202-285-0448