The prevention of injuries to children in automobiles.

A telephone survey of 162 randomly selected parents revealed that less than one-fifth locked doors, seated children in the rear, and used restraints when last traveling with their children in automobiles. Eleven percent of the parents stated that they took none of these precautions. In general, greater but statistically insignificant safety behavior was associated with highway travel, fewer child passengers, and the absence of other adults. A series of 200 roadside observations confirm these reports. In only 11% of the cars observed were all children seated in the rear and restrained. In 22% none of these precautions were noted. Again, slight, but nonsignificant differences are noted in association with the number of children and the site of journey. Postal questionnaires were returned by 61 of the 67 American Academy of Pediatrics pediatricians in the county. Three percent of the respondents indicated that they always advised parents about auto safety precautions. A further 55% stated that they did so sometimes or often. The frequency of the pediatric advising was unrelated to parent safety behavior. The need for a more aggressive approach by pediatricians in this area is discussed in the light of the increased risks associated with failure to observe safety precautions.