This section shows you some child car seat statistics, relevant to the importance of the concept of compatibility and correct installation of these safety devices in your car.
In the rush for sensationalism, some people throw themselves into figures, distorting reality just for the sake of sensationalism.
Such is the case of a “wanna be” car safety guide who makes documented claims with Dr Google, without checking sources. Let’s take them in turn/
1.”80% of car seats are not fitted correctly in the car”
This figure is exaggerated. According to recent studies by organisations such as the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), the percentage of incorrectly installed car seats varies between 50% and 70%, depending on the country and the type of seat used. Awareness campaigns have helped to reduce this problem in recent years.
3. “75% of car accidents happen within 40 kilometres of home”
This statement is almost correct, but needs some qualification. According to European Commission data, between 60% and 70% of car accidents occur over short distances, often in residential areas or urban roads. The fact that most daily journeys take place in these areas increases the risk of accidents at short distances from home, but the percentage varies from country to country.
3. “81% of children are not secured in car seat safety systems, even though their age requires it”
This is a major exaggeration. In the European Union, according to a 2020 ETSC report, around 20-30% of children are not transported in car seats appropriate for their age and weight. While there is room for improvement, most European countries have higher rates of correct use of child car seats due to strict legislation and education campaigns.
4. “71% is the percentage of lives saved through the use of a car seat”
The exact percentage can vary depending on the type of accident and the age of the child. According to the European Road Safety Agency, the correct use of car seats reduces the risk of death in children by around 50-60% and the risk of serious injury by up to 70%. However, this 71% figure is not backed up by concrete statistics and is more likely to be a maximum under certain circumstances.
Here are some medical experts’ findings on the impact of choosing car seats that are unsuitable for a child’s age or incorrectly installed:
“A number of studies have shown that an incorrect recline angle can lead to injury to the child, especially if the child is seated in an upright position, as the child’s head can fall forward and obstruct the airway,” explains Dr Hoffman, addressing the seemingly less serious errors.
Even a 2.5cm displacement might not seem serious, but: “If there is more than 2.5cm of displacement, the seat moves, allowing the forces resulting in the impact to be transmitted to the child’s body, not the car or the seat itself, which will result in injury to the child.”
In the blog section of the website we will also present other child car seat statistics relevant to Europe in general and our country in particular.
Thank you for the data provided to our partners from the European Transport Safety Council and the European Road Safety Charter, the two European Union organisations in which the Child Car Safety Foundation represents Romania, in the first as a member and in the second as a national rapporteur.
