Together through Education and Willpower We Save Lives!

Case Study 1:

Accident 29 July 2020
– Production place: Olt, urban environment
– Car type: saloon car
– Cause: failure to give right of way at STOP sign
– Victims: 9-month-old baby transported in pram

Case study 2:

Accident 28 February 2021
– Production place: Mures, rural environment
– Car type: saloon car
– Cause: speed not adapted to traffic conditions
– Victim: 6 months old baby carried in mum’s arms

The statistics of the last few years show that the figures, instead of improving in terms of a decrease in the number of children killed or seriously injured as a result of a road accident, are stubbornly stubbornly staying there, large, still, like an implacable fate.
We hope that at least 2020 will have been a better one in terms of lower traffic figures and more time for reflection and documentation by parents.

Indeed, in absolute terms the figures are slightly lower, with a total of 42 children aged between 0 and 14 having died as a result of a road accident. But the sad fact is that 38 of these 42 children had not been properly secured in a car seat or with a seatbelt while being transported in the car. In other words, 90 per cent of these deaths were also caused by the negligence of the adults who should have been responsible for these little ones.
If we look back at the data on the number of deaths of children aged 0-14 years in road accidents, we see that in absolute terms, the figures vary between 50 and 60 per year, but what does not vary is the percentage of cases where the car seat or seatbelt was not used, somewhere between 85 and 98%.To these figures must be added serious injuries, which can in turn lead to death, making the picture even more grim.Many parents consider using car seats only when travelling out of town, in the belief that nothing bad can happen in the city.
However, data from the ETSC report on child road safety shows that 74% of accidents involving children in Romania occur in urban areas.
This should give us food for thought, to activate those internal springs that underpin the title of “parent”.

Objective, statistical data show that in almost 90% of cases of death and serious injury in road accidents in Romania, the life and health of the children involved could have been saved if, and only if, the parents had transported their children in compliance with the law, i.e. in special seats or with the car seatbelt fastened.

We find excuses. Lots of excuses: the seats are expensive, we didn’t know they had to be, they only go as far as the corner. And right round the corner is the SOARTA.

It is a statistically proven fact that child car seats do make the difference between life and death as in 70% of cases, children transported and involved in a road accident escape unharmed.

And it’s so simple to change things. It’s just that the child car seat utilisation rate in Romania is only 22%. So..
Yes, good car seats are expensive, because there are whole teams of engineers, designers, testing specialists working on them, and all of that costs money.
It’s not just a plastic shell, but forces measured in impact simulations. And there’s more: incorrectly fitted or incorrectly used car seats do NOT save lives.

We invite you to join the efforts of the Child Car Safety Foundation, prepare early for your role as a parent and take it seriously.
Road Safety Education is part of education for life and that is why we invite you to sign up for free webinars on traffic safety for young passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and scooterists, webinars organised by the Children’s Car Safety Foundation in partnership with the Road Brigade, psychologists, medical specialists, rescuers.
Let’s make Road Safety Education in kindergartens and schools part of the compulsory curriculum, as it is in most EU countries. Children who will study these concepts will be the future drivers and parents of the next generation.
If you are a parent, we invite you to contact us to benefit from the “Your Child’s Car Safety Starts from Maternity” programme and the support programme for those of you who have been involved in road accidents (with or without victims).
We are waiting for you to join us with ideas, initiatives and projects that will help us to make a difference TOGETHER!

Because your Child’s Car Safety is NOT optional! This article is realised with the support of Mr Guilhem Moulin, active parent and member of the Car Safety for Children Romania community.