By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Telegraph.co.uk published an article recently about child booster seats to kick off child safety week in the United Kingdom. The article focused on a survey conducted by Which? magazine. Which? surveyed more than 1,000 parents of children aged between 4 and 12; these children are required by law to use a child car seat.
Here are some results of the poll:
– 17% did not use a car seat at all.
– 30% used backless booster cushions, which meet legal requirements but offer less protection than full sized car seats.
– almost 50% of children aged 4-12 are at risk of serious injury for side-on car collisions.
The chief executive of Which?, Peter Vicary-Smith stated that 30 children under the age of 12 are killed annually while traveling in vehicles; 300 children of the same age are seriously injured. Which?, a consumer magazine, has tested child car seats since 1966. The magazine reported that almost 25% of all car accidents involve a side-on collision. To read more about this topic see Child Booster Seat Survey.
Child booster seats protect children traveling in automobiles. As children get older, they may try to fight sitting in a booster seat. However, if a child is of the age and weight required by law to sit in a car seat, a parent or caretaker should make the child do so. Parents and caretakers have a duty to protect their children from harms way. Although traveling in a booster seat may not be the coolest way for a child to travel, it ensures a higher level of protection and safety to children in automobiles.