Motor Vehicle Accidents Number One Killer of Children Ages 4 to 14

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 7,500 lives have been saved by the proper use of vehicle child restraints during the past 20 years. Yet, vehicle crashes still remain the number one killer of children ages 4 to 14 in America. The reason? Too often it is the improper use, or non-use, of child safety seats and booster seats.

That's why the Oklahoma State Department of Health is joining with NHTSA and other state and local leaders this year to commemorate Child Passenger Safety Week, Feb. 11-17.

While 98 percent of America's infants and 93 percent of children ages 1 to 3 are regularly restrained, not enough children ages 4 to 7 are restrained properly for their size and age. Only 10 to 20 percent of children ages 4 to 7 who should be using booster seats to protect them are actually in them. But if children ages 4 to 8 are placed in booster seats, they are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than children who are restrained only by a seat belt.