Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for children. In 2011, the most recent data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, 11.5% of children ages 1 through 4 died in a car accident. There are measures parents can take to keep their young children safe. However, a new survey shows many don't.
Despite efforts to educate the public, proper car seat use continues to be an issue for families. Safety advocates recommend the youngest passengers, those under 2, be placed in rear-facing car seats. But, the survey conducted by State Farm shows that fewer than half of parents actually do.“One of the reasons you don’t flip around your kids to be front facing from a rear facing seat is the way their neck would go in whiplash. If they’re rear facing they won’t get whiplash like they would if they were facing forward,” said Missy Dundov, a spokesperson for State Farm.
Dundov also points out that there are more dangers on roadways today than when parents were young. “So many more distractions. People on their phone, people messing with electronics in their car: the radio, the GPS," she said. "There’s also a lot higher of a speed factor than there was.”
The survey also found nearly 70% of parents don’t anchor the top tether of forward-facing seats.
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