Fact and Trend Report: Child Passenger Safety

The second Partners for Child Passenger Safety Fact and Trend Report is from the world's largest study of children in car crashes. The report shows that as children age, their risk of injury/death increases significantly. Why? Improper child restraint use.

Key factors are moving children to adult seat belts and to the front seat too early.

The report states that 46% of 4 to 8 year olds were improperly restrained in adult seat belts. They were three times more likely to be injured than infants and toddlers. Most children need to use a booster seat from about age 4 to they grow to be 4'9". All children under 13 need to be in the back seat.

The report finds that the U.S. has improved child restraint use and made progress with booster seat laws. See the complete report for more findings.