The Use of Child Restraint Devices in Vehicles

To the Editor.— Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in childhood.¹ Physicians generally agree that many highway casualties are preventable with the use of child restraint devices. The medical profession played a significant role in the implementation of child restraint legislation in the majority of the states. In 1976, Williams² observed that 90% of children ride unprotected in automobiles. The US Department of Transportation estimates that two thirds (67%) of infants and 44% of children between the ages of 1 and 4 years are placed in safety seats.³

On a 360-mile trip through north central Florida and southern Georgia, the authors undertook a preliminary investigation to determine actual child restraint usage in rural areas. One hundred consecutive motor vehicles with small children were studied. The authors directly observed and ascertained whether or not the children were riding in safety restraint devices. Poorly visualized and questionable