Motor Vehicle Passenger Injury

The Higher You Sit, The Safer the Fit: Adult seat belts don't fit children properly until they're 148cm tall, which is why it's so important for pre-school and school-aged kids to stay in an appropriate child restraint or booster seat.

One of the leading causes of child death due to trauma involves children as passengers in motor vehicles. From 2000-2004, 81 children in New Zealand died as passengers in a car crash, or an average of 16 child deaths a year.

Studies show booster seats for pre-school and school-aged kids can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by up to 59%. Correct installation is also important. When used correctly, child car restraints reduces the risk of death for infants by up to 70%, for toddlers by up to 54% , and the need for hospitalisation for children 4 years by up to 69% .

Click the links below to access injury resources, information, prevention and other information.

Factsheet

Child Motor Vehicle Passenger Injuries (Pdf. April 2009)
Effectiveness of Belt Positioning Booster Seats (Pdf. April 2009)
New Zealand Transport Agency Factsheet 7: Child Restraints (Link, February 2009)

Resources

NEW! The Higher You Sit, The Safer The Fit "Rugby" Advertisement (Pdf, Ocotber 2009)
NEW! Strategies with Kids, Information for Parent's Keeping Kids Safe (In the car, PDF. September 2009)
Booster Rooster 148cm. Height Chart (The printed height charts are now available July 2009, the pdf is coming soon)
The Higher You Sit, The Safer The Fit Print Advertisement/Poster (Pdf, June 2009)
The Higher You Sit, The Safer The Fit Radio Ad, 60 seconds (Youtube link)
The Higher You Sit, The Safer The Fit DLE Flyer (Pdf, June 2009)
The Higher You Sit, The Safer The Fit DLE Flyer (Maori, Coming soon)
Boosters in a Nutshell: Guide for Coalitions & Injury Prevention Professionals (Pdf, 2009)

Media Release

Have a Safe Christmas & Summer, Perfect Gift Ideas Media Release (Nov 2009).
Safer Journeys: Have Your Say on Booster Seats (PDF, September 2009).

Position Papers, Research, Bibliography and Advocacy Information

NEW! Submission Template: Submission Template for the Ministry of Transport's Road Safety Strategy to 2020, Safer Journeys. Focus on Booster Seats (MS Word, September 2009).
Bibliography: A selection on Motor Vehicle Child Passenger Safety (Pdf, March 2009)
Position Paper: It's Booster Seat Time for Kiwi Kids (A4, Pdf, July 2008).
Issue Paper: Child Carseat Restraints (A4, Pdf, August 2001)

Project Plans

ACC Child Car Restraint Checking Clinic Planning Guide (Pdf )

Presentations

Restraint of the School-Aged Passenger: The Role of the Booster Seat. By Dr. E. R. Segedin, Safekids Leadership Conference, March 2008
Information & Planning Days Workshop 2009. By Julie Chambers, delivered at Safekids workshops introducing the 2009/2010 campaign themes (Coming soon).

Links

For links to New Zealand and international websites relating to this injury topic, go to our links page.

For more information on the Motor Vehicle Child Passenger Injuries campaign and how to use the resources and information available in this page, contact Campaign@safekids.org.nz. You can also contact your local Safekids Coalition Leader to find out how you can help promote child injury prevention in your community.

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This page was last updated Novermber 23, 2009.