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A Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU) study found children with correct restraints, above, were less likely to be injured in crashes. However, in some 75 per cent of cases, inappropriate restraints were used and two out of three child car seats were incorrectly fitted or fastened.
The study found many parents were graduating their children from baby capsules to child car seats and boosters too soon.
The QISU, attached to the Mater Hospital, has recommended adoption across all states of uniform restraint laws, an education program to teach parents the correct use of restraints and a network to distribute child and booster seats similar to the baby capsule system.
It also recommended that Standards Australia test and approve the Isofix/Latch system which is used overseas and appears in European and Japanese cars imported into Australia.
RACQ traffic and safety executive manager John Wikman said the QISU findings matched their 2006 study which showed almost half of children aged four to seven were transported dangerously in cars.
“RACQ also found that 45 per cent of that vulnerable age group was being driven around in improperly fitted restraints, the incorrect type of child seat and, in the worst cases, no specific child restraints at all,” he said.
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