Evidence to support changes to child restraint legislation

Du, Wei; Finch, Caroline F; Bilston, Lynne E

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb02196.x

Topics

To the Editor: Despite expert recommendation, Australian states have yet to enact legislation requiring use of child restraints beyond the age of 12 months.

1 NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.
2 University of Ballarat, Ballarat, VIC.
3 Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: w.du@unsw.edu.au

1. Winston FK, Chen IG, Elliott MR, et al. Recent trends in child restraint practices in the United States. Pediatrics 2004; 113: e458-e464.
2. Charlton J, Koppel S, Fitzharris M, et al. Factors that influence children’s booster seat use. Report No. 250. Melbourne: Monash University Accident Research Centre, 2006.
3. Brown J, McCaskill ME, Henderson M, Bilston LE. Serious injury is associated with suboptimal restraint use in child motor vehicle occupants. J Paediatr Child Health 2006; 42: 345-349.
4. Santschi M, Echave V, Laflamme S, et al. Seat-belt injuries in children involved in motor vehicle crashes. Can J Surg 2005; 48: 373-376.
5. Miller TR, Zaloshnja E, Hendrie D. Cost-outcome analysis of booster seats for auto occupants aged 4 to 7 years. Pediatrics 2006; 118: 1994-1998.

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