“When you see what we as paramedics have to deal with at accident scenes, you’ll understand the importance of wearing a seatbelt, and securing your child safely in a child seat. It is especially chilling to arrive at a scene and find a mother cradling her child after he’s been ejected through the windscreen. As a parent myself, I can never emphasise the importance of car seats enough,” said Charné van der Berg, Netcare 911’s critical care operations manager.
Over the recent 2022/ 2023 festive season, 1 451 people were killed in road accidents, down from 1 685 over the previous year’s summer holiday period, with the transport ministry drawing attention to the lifesaving importance of seat belts and child car seats.
In 2021, seven percent of South Africa’s road accident passenger fatalities were children under 14, as noted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation. According to the most recent Statistics South Africa Causes of Death and Mortality Survey, road accidents accounted for 4.2% of non-natural deaths for babies under a year old, and 15.5% for children aged one to 14 years old.
For children under the age of two, a rear-facing car seat on the front passenger seat is recommended, and then a front-facing car seat on the back seat as they get older. Once children outgrow a car seat, they are still too small for conventional seatbelts to be optimally effective and need to be secured in a booster seat.
“Accidents happen when they are least expected – even a quick trip down the road can have fatal consequences if a child is not safely restrained. According to Arrive Alive, properly installed child safety seats can reduce the need for hospitalisation among children younger than four years by 69% in road traffic accidents,” Van der Berg added.
“It is not safe for a child to sit on an adult’s lap while travelling in a car. The adult may be safely strapped in with a safety belt, but the force of a collision is so immense that the child isn’t protected at all. People often think they would be able to hold onto their child in the event of an accident, but in reality, it’s not possible,” she said.
A 2019 observational study recorded fewer than one in five child passengers using safety restraints among visitors and patients to a children’s hospital in Cape Town. Concerningly, a third of children noted in the study were completely unprotected from injury, as they were sitting on the lap of an adult.
“Although toddlers have a will of their own, and can be especially difficult when being strapped in, as the responsible adult it is up to you to make it a routine part of every car trip. It takes two minutes, and it can save a lifetime of regret.”
Seven tips for car seat safety:
1. Do your research when buying a car seat. Visit the Automobile Association’s website for the relevant specifications and regulations to ensure your choice of car seat is compliant6. Make sure your car seat or booster seat is quality assured by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
2. Install child safety restraints correctly according to the seat manufacturer’s instructions and check these against your car’s owner’s manual.
3. Ensure your child’s car seat is right for their age and weight. Replace the seat as needed when your child outgrows their car seat.
4. Make sure to check all the clips and buckles, including those securing the child seat into the car, every time you travel with your child.
5. Make sure straps are tight fitting to be effective in an accident and to prevent driver distraction that could lead to an accident.
6. Be consistent. There is no negotiation when it comes to car safety, your child or infant has to be properly secured every time.
7. Avoid dressing your child in bulky clothing, as this can affect the fit of child restraints and make them less effective in an emergency. Rather, dress your child in layers of thinner fabric that will not compress under force or put a blanket over the restraints once your child is safely buckled in.
“Even if you are the most cautious driver, there are so many variables that contribute to accidents. Without a doubt, car seats and seat belts used correctly to save lives every day; unfortunately not enough people are using them,” Van der Berg said.
“Unequivocally, these car safety devices make a big difference to survival and minimising injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Set a good example for your children; always make sure everyone is strapped in safely and never take a chance when it comes to car seats or seatbelts.”
