Transportation of infants and children in motor vehicles

Abstract

This article reviews the transportation of infants and children in motor vehicles, focusing on some safety issues that could be modifiable. The authors report that despite all 10 provinces and three territories of Canada having laws requiring the use of child safety seats, many injuries and deaths are directly attributed to nonuse or misuse of child restraints. Parents and caregivers need to understand the current legislation in their province or territory, as well as how to properly install and use child restraint systems. The authors emphasize the importance of first educating pediatricians and family physicians, who can then influence parents and family members regarding child transportation safety. The article offers recommendations for selecting and using the most appropriate car safety seats for growing children, based on provincial legislation and peer-review literature available at the time of publication. The article also provides clinicians with essential knowledge for discussing safe travel with parents, and identifies opportunities for clinician advocacy for enhancing child passenger legislation in Canada. Topics include common car seat errors or misuses, rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, booster seats, seat belts, booster seat legislation advocacy, sales tax exemption for child passenger restraints, aftermarket products and devices, seating position, seat installation, and placement of the child in the seat. Physicians are encouraged to make use of various publications available from Transport Canada, Safe Kids Canada and the AAP for advising their patients.