Child restraint seating regulations modified

Abstract

Two US Department of Transportation agencies are modifying their child restraint seating regulations to make it easier for persons traveling with small children to use the same safety seat in both their motor vehicles and on commercial airplane flights. At present, seats certified by the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cannot be used on airliners without special certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, which also is part of the department. The new common standard is expected to go into effect next Feb 28. The department estimates that more than 600 small children die in traffic accidents in this country each year. It further estimates—from data submitted by state agencies—that two of three (67%) of the infants transported in motor vehicles now are placed in infant restraint seats, but that fewer than half (44%) of children between the ages of 1 and 4 years are placed in safety seats.