When “Buckle Up” Is Not Enough: Enhancing the Safety of Children in Motor Vehicles

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and acquired disability in children over age 1 in the United States. In 1998 alone, 697 children under age 6 died as occupants in motor vehicles, and nearly 100,000 were injured. This Issue Brief describes findings from Partners for Child Passenger Safety, the nation’s largest surveillance system of children in car crashes, and points to improvements in child restraints that can reduce the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash.