Parents Forgo Booster Seats While Carpooling, Survey Finds
2/2/2012 11:09:41 AM released in this month's edition of
Pediatrics found that 76% of parents with children ages 4 to 8
used a safety seat when their child was in their own car.
However, when children are riding in another's car, 21% of
parents who use a safety seat in their own car do not ask the
driver to use a safety seat. Additionally 55% of parents who use
a booster seat in their own car do not always require their
child to use a booster seat when driving other children who do
not have boosters. Car crashes are the leading cause of death
for children ages 3 to 14, and NHTSA estimates that child safety
seats have saved nearly 9,000 lives since 1975. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that all
children ages 4 to 7 ride in a car seat until they outgrow the
recommended weight or height limit, and then ride in a booster
seat. Children ages 8 to 12 should also ride in a booster seat
until they are tall enough to safely use a