Almost half of parents are not aware of the exceptions in which minors are allowed to travel in the front
The majority of mothers and fathers (99.6%) recognize the importance of transporting a newborn in a rear-facing safety carrier or in an approved carrycot, although almost half are unaware of the exceptions where minors can travel in the front . Of course 9 out of 10 recognize the benefits of the Isofix system, including that it simplifies the installation of the baby carrier and the seat and increases safety. And it is that correctly fitting a child seat prevents 75% percent of deaths and up to 90% of injuries.
These are the conclusions drawn from the report ‘Road safety of children in the car. Do our children always travel safely?’ of Fundación Mapfre, which aims to determine whether the perception that parents have about the use of child restraint systems is in line with current recommendations and regulations, and to identify safety gaps in the use of CRS from birth to 12 years. And the form was completed not only by parents, but also by an age group that presumably does not correspond to parents who are CRS users, but rather to grandparents or other figures related to children, who are also users of this type of device and for whom they are sensitive to the need to make good use of it. It seems clear that it is important to consider all groups that may be involved in health education strategies implemented from different areas.
In the case of the CRS, ensuring that no child dies in a road accident without using one of them, an indicator of the DGT road safety strategy 2011-2020, although this strategy should be broader and avoid minors perish, even the use of a retention system requires a strategy that brings the necessary knowledge to these groups.
This point is very important as children should always travel safely and use CRS regardless of distance or travel time. Therefore, knowledge of the importance of using these devices is essential to reach adults who may be carrying children in their vehicles.
Another noteworthy fact in the results is the low percentage of men who answered the questionnaire (5.35%). This may be due to the method of dissemination, because while social networks are equally accessible by gender, the dissemination has taken place through networks affiliated with professional associations of midwives, the associations themselves and groups affiliated with them, the majority of whose followers are female . This in itself may imply a bias in the collected information on the perception of knowledge of CRS use in men.
The activities carried out in the cooperation agreement between FAME and Fundación MAPFRE are reflected very positively in the response of the participants of the study regarding the transfer of the newborn, the benefits of the isofix system, when they see children with the face at which point you can start using a booster seat with a backrest when you need to change the seat for greater, proper adjustment and attachment of the belt and harness.
Some aspects related to the subject have not been answered entirely satisfactorily, such as the position of the backrest when children travel rearwards or the recommendation to use a booster seat.
In total, 34.30% of the participants are not aware that when the baby is traveling backwards, the backrest should be placed in an intermediate position, between horizontal and vertical. Despite the fact that 65.70% know the correct position, this data is relevant and requires more attention for the training of CRS users.
On the other hand, the perception of the respondents about the advice and mandatory use of the booster seat is incorrect. A high percentage (41.16%) believe that the recommendation is until the child measures 135 cm, a height that corresponds to the mandatory use of the device, not the recommended height, in reality the recommendation is up to 150 cm or until the seat belt is a perfect fit for the child’s physical condition. This can give parents a false sense of security into thinking that it is recommended and not required to use a booster seat if their child is less than 135 cm, allowing them to could do without the device, when in fact use of the CRS is currently mandatory to avoid injury in the event of an accident. 24.42% declare that they are not aware of the advice about the height of the child, which does not exclude that they may be aware of the obligation to 135 cm, or that they are not aware of this information. Therefore, this is an aspect that should be emphasized in the training.
Finally, there are other aspects in which responses have been obtained that indicate a significant lack of knowledge of the recommendations on the appropriate use of CRS, where particular emphasis should be placed on training.
First, the perception of safety participants have regarding the safest place to put the car seat is disturbing, as only 38.84% cite it as the center back seat. This location provides the child with the most side impact protection as it is the location furthest from the side doors.
At this point, it should be borne in mind that most cars do not have isofix anchorages in the central rear seat, but in the side seats. In this case, if the isofix system is to be used, the ideal location would be the right rear seat, as this allows visual contact with the child and provides safer access from the curb to access the seat, both for installation , such as for getting the child in and out of the vehicle. This seat position was rated as safest at 35.70%, which probably reflects the use of the isofix system in the CRS. However, 18.84% of the participants find the left side position safer, 6.05% find the sitting position in the back seat indifferent and 0.58% find the sitting position in the back seat safer. Therefore, this point requires more attention in the training.
Another worrying fact is the lack of knowledge, in 8.60% of cases, about the age of the CRS used by the respondents, and the use of CRS older than 6 years in 5.81%. In contrast, 57.56% indicate that they do not know how many years the SRI must be renewed. There is no conclusive evidence on the duration of CRS and Regulation 129 of the European Commission regulating the homologation of CRS also does not require durability testing. However, it should be taken into account that the condition of the child seat will not be the same when it is in the box and stored in a cool and dry environment, than if it is exposed to factors such as cold, heat or sunlight for several years in a row. , which can contribute to the degradation of the elements. Likewise, using the device may cause it to lose its functionality due to wear and tear. Since the CRS are intended to protect children in the event of a collision or sudden braking, it would be reasonable not to use the same device for more than 6 years, always giving priority to the car seat manufacturer’s instructions. Therefore, this aspect requires more intervention and awareness from CRS users.
Finally, in 55.79% of cases, information about CRS is sought in reliable media (specialized shop, midwife, hospital). 30.29% self-taught for this information in the media or the internet, not knowing what kind of websites are consulted. 7.93% are advised by friends or family.
Finally, there are two topics on which ambiguous or contradictory answers have been obtained. On the one hand, in connection with Royal Decree 667/2015, of 17 July, which specifies the obligation that the occupants of vehicles with a maximum of nine seats (including the driver) when dealing with minors with a height of less than or equal to 135 cm , travel in the back seat with an approved CRS for their size and weight. This Royal Decree establishes three exceptions in which the child may travel with a child seat in the front seat: if the vehicle has no rear seats, if all the rear seats are occupied by other minors with an SRI, or if they cannot be installed safety systems for the back seat. The other conflicting issue has to do with how the booster is more protective with a backrest than without a backrest. In both cases, the answers obtained seem to correspond more to a misunderstanding of the question than to a lack of knowledge about the subject.
This may be due to the fact that both questions ask for the wrong answer, so despite going through a content validation process, the wording was not completely clear to the participants.
The safety of children traveling by car largely depends on the correct use of the CRS by the adults they travel with, so information and training on these devices is essential. In this sense, the strategies implemented as a result of the cooperation agreement between FAME and Fundación MAPFRE have had positive results. However, the data collected in this study shows that there is a need to continue education and training for adults, not just parents, but all groups who could potentially be CRS users in their vehicles. For this it is essential that all groups have access to this information from reliable sources.
-With a height of less than 135 cm, the occupant must use a child restraint system adapted to their weight and height, and it is recommended to do so up to 150 cm.
-It is better to use rear-facing car seats, at least up to 4 years.
– Seats always approved and always better with the ISOFIX system.
-Buy car seats from stores where they can advise you on models and proper installation in your car.
-Install the seat correctly according to the manufacturer’s and vehicle’s instructions.
-Older occupants who can already use a booster seat and seat belt, make sure it is properly adjusted. It should go over the pelvis, the middle of the sternum and the middle of the collarbone, without getting too close to the neck.
-The top of the child’s head and the headrest must be level.
Pregnant woman
– Always use the seat belt. The lower band should go under the abdomen and just above the pelvic bones, the top band should go over the middle of the sternum and collarbone, without getting too close to the neck.
-It should never be worn on the stomach or on one of the breasts, nor under the arm or armpit.
-If the handlebars are less than 20 feet from the uterus (and fetus), it may be time to travel as a passenger.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
