Consider car seats for older kids
Embargoed until:
Publicly released:
2019-08-16 00:01
The numbers of kids aged 5-7 riding in car seats improved after legislation introduced in 2013 changed the age to which a child must be in an “appropriate approved child restraint” from the child's fifth to their seventh birthday. But researchers say older kids need more protection too. Researchers surveyed 300 families about how their kids sat in the car and though they found kids 5-7 were more likely to be sitting in a booster seat compared to a previous survey, most kids older than 7 weren't restrained according to best practice. They say booster seats can improve safety in older children and this best practice might be turned into a legal requirement.
Journal/conference: New Zealand Medical Journal
Organisation/s: University of Auckland, Starship Children's Health
Funder: No funding declared.
Media Release
From: New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)
Key Points
- Child restraint use in 5-7 year old children improved after an amendment in child restraint legislation.
- Most children >7 years of age are not restrained appropriately, according to best practice recommendations.
- Consideration could be given to turning current best practice recommendations into a legal requirement.
Summary
Child car seats and booster seats save lives. Many children >5 years of age are not appropriately restrained. In 2013, the New Zealand Government amended child restraint legislation. We have shown that this has improved child restraint use in children aged 5–7 years. Since the law does not mandate booster seats for children >7 years of age, most of these children are still suboptimally restrained.
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New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)
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