Motor Vehicle Passenger Injury
The Higher You Sit, The Safer the Fit: Kids are safer in a child restraint or booster seat until they're 148cm tall.
Key Safety Messages:
- Always use the correct child restraint and booster seat for your child's height and age.
- Follow the manufacturers' instructions for your child restraint.
- Remember all child car seats being used in NZ must meet the accepted Safety Standards at all times.
- Make sure your child restraint or booster seat correctly fits your vehicle.
- Get help installing your child restraint or booster. Contact a NZTA-certified certified child restraint technician for support and to get help to correctly install a child restraint.
- The back seat is safest for kids.
For children 0-14 years, one of the leading causes of injury involves children as passengers in motor vehicles, with about 16 deaths a year and the equivalent of one classroom-full (26) of children admitted to hospital a month.
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 reduce 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 and under by up to 69%.
Click here to read about Safekids' work to put NZ child restraint laws in line with international best practise.
Click the links below to access injury resources, information, prevention and other information.
Factsheets
Resources
If you are a Safekids Coalition member and would like to order resources, email campaign@safekids.org.nz.
Media Release
Position Papers, Research, Bibliography, Reports and Advocacy Information
Project Plans
Presentations
Links
For links to New Zealand and international websites relating to this injury topic, go to our
links page.
This page was last updated 5 June 2013.