One-third of children killed in crashes arent properly restrained

One-third of children killed in crashes arent properly restrained

More than one in three children under age 13 who died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2011 were not in car seats or wearing seat belts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Almost two children are killed every day while riding in cars and 338 are injured. The percentage of children who died in auto accidents was much higher in larger vehicles: SUVs (55 percent), pickups (43 percent), and vans (40 percent); sedans, correspondingly, are 24percent.

In a survey by Safe Kids Worldwide, one in four parents say they have driven with their children unrestrained. One in three affluent parents (with a household income above $100,000) say its acceptable to leave their child unrestrained if they arent driving far. But 60 percent of crashes involving children occur 10 minutes or less from home. Nearly one-fourth of parents younger than 29 said it would be acceptable to ride with a child unrestrained when traveling overnight. But that is when children are most likely to be injured in a crash. Parents with graduate degrees are twice as likely to say it is acceptable to drive without buckling up their children, particularly if they are in a rush.