In Utah, Studies Show Car Booster Seats Could Save Many Lives

Salt Lake City – Each year more than 680 Utah children ages five to nine are injured in motor vehicle crashes. Utah Department of Health (UDOH) injury experts say many are hurt because they are not buckled into a booster seat.

“Many parents believe that, once their children reach age four or five, they’re ready to leave the car seat for an adult seat belt,” said Gary Mower of the UDOH Violence and Injury Prevention Program. “But until they are at least eight years old, most children are too small and too short to ride in a car without a booster seat,” he said.

The correct use of booster seats lowers the risk of injury by 59 percent compared to seat belts used alone. Yet only 25 percent of Utah children ages four to eight are restrained in booster seats.

Trauma experts at Primary Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) say they see the worst injuries among children who were either unrestrained or buckled into adult seat belts during a crash. “In 2005 we admitted 38 children ages four to eight for car crash injuries,” said PCMC trauma program manager Kris Hansen. “Of those, only four were properly restrained in a booster seat. Sixteen weren’t buckled at all and 14 were in adult lap and/or shoulder belts,” said Hansen. “Four children were thrown from the vehicle and it’s unknown if or how they were secured.”

Strong occupant protection laws are a proven way to help parents remember to buckle up their children. Many parents rely on these laws as a guideline to help keep kids safe.