Kids in seatbelts way too young

dmpmercury · Apr 15, 2010

I see so many people around here who put there preschool age (3-5) kids often in the front seat with just a seatbelt and no booster. How much less protected in an accident is a kid that doesn't fit correctly in a seatbelt especially a kid who has a long way to go unlike a typical 8 year who is getting closer to fitting but not quite there yet. How much higher are the chances of injury and death and what is the difference in the crash tests. I always fear what will happen but I been wondering if they would be ok in a typical accident. I would never take the chance with my kids life but so many do and I wonder just how bad it is.

skaterbabs · Apr 15, 2010

Well, the death rate for 0-4 year olds has gone down a great deal, but for 4-8 year olds it hasn't. After age 4, car crashes are the #1 killer, and according to the JAMA 2003 study, booster use results in a 59% reduction in injury risk vs the seatbelt. Part of that may be due to the c1 and c2 vertebrae still being multiple bones until kids are almost 6, but that's just my theory. 6 year olds still have a lot of cartilage vs bone.

tl01 · Apr 15, 2010

I'm always surprised that little kids aren't at least in boosters from the perspective that they can't even see out of the car windows. Don't the kids get annoyed with not being able to see anything when they are driving?

Kids in seatbelts way too young

dmpmercury

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tl01

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