Buckle Up! Is Not Enough

Abstract

Child passenger safety remains a leading public health priority since motor vehicle (MV) crashes are a leading cause of death for children older than 1 year.¹ In 1997, 2038 children younger than 16 years died as occupants in MV crashes and an additional 318,000 were injured.² From 1977 to 1997, the fatality rate for MV occupants younger than 16 years decreased by 25%.² However, since 1990, child occupant fatality and injury rates have remained largely unchanged (Figure 1).