Safety Advocates Reinforce Back Seat Message to Parents as New Air Bag Technology Rule Takes Effect; 1,700 Children Saved Since 1996

8/27/2003

From: John Chambers, 202-338-8700 or 202-285-0448 (cell), for the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The lives of more than 1,700 children have been saved since 1996 solely because they were sitting in the rear seat, according to a new analysis issued today by the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign. The analysis was issued on the eve of a new standard taking effect that mandates 20 percent of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. be equipped with advanced air bag technology.

"We want to make sure parents are clear -- old air bag, new air bag, no air bag, kids are safer in the back seat properly restrained," said National Transportation Safety Board Chairman (NTSB) Ellen G. Engleman.

The movement of children to the rear seat has been credited with helping to dramatically reduce the number of child air bag deaths and child deaths overall. Since 1996, the rate of child air bag deaths has declined a remarkable 96 percent despite more than five times the number of passenger air bag equipped vehicles on the road. Even more children have benefited from the additional margin of safety in the rear seat in the majority of crashes.

"One of this nation's most important public health achievements in recent years has been the movement of children out of the front seat and into the rear," said Chuck Hurley, Executive Director of the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign of the National Safety Council. "We want to make clear that even with new technologies, the safest place for children 12 and under will continue to be in a rear seat, properly restrained."

The safety coalition's analysis was conducted by Dr. James Nichols, former Director of Research and Traffic Records at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nichols examined fatalities from 1996 to 2001 and reviewed recent studies of the effectiveness of moving children to the rear seat. Based on the number of rear-seated fatalities and a conservative 30 percent estimated effectiveness of moving children to the rear seat, Nichols found that more than 1,700 child deaths had been prevented during that time period.

"This analysis supports our research that shows children are safer in the back seat, properly restrained," said Dr. Susan Ferguson, Senior Vice President for Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "The most common fatal crashes are frontal impacts, accounting for 50 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths. It stands to reason -- the further away from the impact and passenger compartment intrusion, the better your chances of survival."

Despite gains in child restraint use, recent data indicate that an alarming number of parents are still putting their children in the front seat. According to the NHTSA, parents are putting 15 percent of infants, 10 percent of toddlers ages 1-3, and 29 percent of children ages 4-7 in the front seat, placing them at increased risk of serious injury or even death.

The Campaign's analysis also found that the movement to the rear seat corresponds with a significant reduction in front seat fatalities among infants and toddlers. Infants experienced a 40 percent reduction in front seat fatalities from 1996 to 2001 and toddlers showed a 16 percent reduction over the same time period.

On September 1, 2003, 20 percent of all new motor vehicles sold in the U.S. must be equipped with advanced air bag technologies and by September 1, 2006 the requirement will apply to all new light trucks and cars. The new standard results from a Congressional mandate in 1998.

Advanced air bag technologies vary, but in their simplest forms suppress or reduce the deployment force of the air bag.

"Improving technology is a good thing, but parents still need to remain vigilant in making sure kids are properly restrained," said E. Stephen Edwards, M.D., president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "The evidence is clear that the safest place for kids 12 and under is in the rear seat."

"While these data indicate progress, traffic crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional death and injury for children," said Karen Farnsworth, director of child passenger safety at the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. "Too many children are still riding unrestrained and improperly restrained, so we must continue to educate parents that the much safer place for children is in the back seat, properly restrained."

The Campaign reminded parents and caregivers to follow these life-saving steps:

-- Infants should ride in a rear-facing child safety seat that is correctly installed in a back seat.

-- Young children should ride in a back seat in a child safety seat or seat belt that is right for their age and size, and that is used correctly.

-- For correct use information, follow your vehicle owner's manual and child safety seat instructions.

-- According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if it is absolutely necessary to transport children in a front seat, place the child in the front seat who will be the most securely restrained and sitting in the proper forward-facing position, with the seat pushed back as far as possible. A child in a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness may be the best choice because a child who is in a booster seat or using a regular seat belt can more easily move out of position and be at greater risk of injuries from the air bag.

The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, a program of the National Safety Council, is a public/private partnership of automotive manufacturers, insurance companies, child safety seat manufacturers, government agencies, health professionals and child health and safety organizations. The goal of the Campaign is to increase the proper use of safety belts and child safety seats and to inform the public about how to maximize the lifesaving capabilities of air bags while minimizing the risks.