Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children older than age 2. A total of 1,045 children younger than age 13 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008; nearly 700 of these deaths were children riding in passenger vehicles. The number of child passenger deaths has declined by half since 1975. The rate of child passenger deaths per million children also has fallen dramatically, reaching a record low of 13 deaths per million children in 2008. Proper restraint use can help reduce deaths even more. The proportion of fatally injured children who were restrained rose from 15 percent in 1985 to 50 percent in 2008. Still, more than 260 fatally injured child occupants were unrestrained in 2008, and others were improperly restrained.

…it is still strange to hear that only 50% of fatally injured children in 2008 were in a child restraint of some kind.

Among the questions answered are “Are children safer in the rear seats?” (Yes) and “Which type of child safety seat should I use for my child?”.