SASKATOON (Staff) – Even though most Canadians are buckling themselves into their cars, they aren’t as careful with their children.
Canada’s National Safety Council said 90 percent of all adults now do up the seatbelt when they are driving. However, the national compliance rate for child restraints is 80 percent and only half of those seats are properly fastened.
Often seats are incorrectly attached to the car or children are mismatched with the restraint appropriate for their size.
Restraints improperly used
In 1993 there were 218 deaths and 21,715 injuries to children up to the age of 14 as a result of motor vehicle crashes. The council said in a press release these deaths and injuries could be avoided or lessened if child restraints were properly used. The council also noted that June, July and August are when the most casualties occur.
