CHILDREN WEARING APPROVED RESTRAINTS AND ADULTS' BELTS IN CRASHES
This report is based upon an in-depth study (IMPACT 7) of 73 children who occupied cars in 231 crashes on New South Wales roads. The crashes were reported to involve children who were transported from the scene by ambulance. The study focused on restrained children under eight years of age. This was in view of legislation which provided legal impetus from March, 1977 in New South Wales for children to wear adult belts or child restraints of a type approved by the Standards Association of Australia if available when travelling in passenger vehicles. Children in approved child restraints were afforded very good crash protection in often severe crashes when their restraints were installed correctly and not loaded directly by other parts of their vehicles. One child died when her child seat was broken from behind by boot luggage and the dislocated car rear seat back. Three point emergency locking retractor and lap/sash seat belts also provided very good protection. One fatality however was reached by deep side vehicle intrusion, and another occurred when the loose sash strap of a lap/sash belt lay across the face of a child. Lap belts were ineffective for two fatalities because of a lack of control of excursion and possibility of ejection. There was little doubt that five children would have died if unrestrained.
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Corporate Authors:
New South Wales Dept of Motor Transport, Australia
Traffic Accident Research Unit, 56 Rothschild Avenue
Roseberry, New South Wales 2018, Australia -
Authors:
- Corben, C W
- Herbert, D C
- Publication Date: 1981-1
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 53 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Child restraint systems; Children; Crashes; Fatalities; Laws; Manual safety belts
- Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00367115
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: HS-033 040
- Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
- Created Date: Aug 30 1982 12:00AM