From 1982 through 1994, it is estimated that 2,655 lives were saved by child restraint use. More than 300 children ages 4 and under were saved as a result of child restraint use in 1994 alone. If all child passengers ages 4 and under were restrained, an additional 200 lives could be saved and 20,000 injuries could be prevented annually . Air bags are estimated to reduce adult fatalities by an additional 10 percent over and above the benefits of using safety belts. Nearly all of these children were either unrestrained or improperly restrained.
Safety belts provide greatest protection against ejection from a vehicle during a crash.
Three quarters of occupants who are totally ejected from passenger vehicles during fatal crashes are killed. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories have child occupant protection laws in effect. These laws vary widely in their age requirements, exemptions, enforcement procedures and penalties. Only 11 states currently have primary enforcement laws. States with primary laws have significantly higher usage rates and lower fatality and injury rates.