I Overview Automobile accidents are responsible for more deaths in middle childhood than any other cause. There are an additional 100 children injured in car crashes for every child who dies. Your young child is more likely to be killed in an automobile collision than any other type of accident. Nationwide, more than 265,000 children are injured each year while riding in motor vehicles.
Most accidents occur within five miles of home.
Non-crash incidents such as sudden stops, swerves, turns or children's movement in a car constitutes important causes of injury. Use of a lap belt alone has been associated with dislocations of the spine and ruptures of abdominal organs. Even worse is putting the shoulder strap under one arm. According to statistics gathered by the National Safe Kids Campaign, child safety seats reduce the death rate by 71 percent, the number of hospitalizations by 67 percent and the occurrence of minor injuries by 50 percent. This attitude has been reinforced by the lack of legislation mandating adequate restraints for elementary school-age children, but denounced by studies, investigations, and statistics.