Under The Microscope: Children In Vehicles
Children in vehicles. This is a particular problem with several aspects. Many countries have brought in laws to protect children in cars because of their special vulnerability First, it is an understandable, but highly dangerous, indulgence for adults to allow small children to travel unrestrained in the front seat of a car. Some parents even allow them to stand gripping the fascia edge immediately below the windscreen, an invitation to facial and eye damage even in minor accidents. The seating of a child on the mother's lap is hazardous, as on violent deceleration either mother and child pitch against the windscreen - or the child flies out of the arms of a belt-restrained mother. The close proximity to the fascia and windscreen causes many deaths and facial injuries, especially to the eyes. Adult secured seatbelts will not properly accommodate a child (or even a small adult), because the fixation point on the door pillar is too high even if the straps can be short- ened sufficien...