Almost one in ten children under 1.35 meters tall are not consistently secured in their car seats. Of the children who are secured, not all are in a child seat. In addition, one in five children keeps their coats on in their car seats in winter.
This is according to a new study by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR), which is launching an awareness campaign on the importance of child safety in cars.
In 2024, nearly 300 children under the age of ten were injured, sometimes seriously, in traffic accidents while traveling as passengers in cars in Wallonia. There was also one fatality.
However, the AWSR emphasizes that a child who is correctly installed in an appropriate child seat is three times less likely to be seriously injured or killed in an accident. After all, it is not only the use of a child seat that is crucial; the correct installation and fastening of the child seat also make a big difference in the event of an accident.
Serious protection, but…
A common problem is that children switch too early to using a regular seat belt or a booster seat without a backrest. This often leads to the seat belt not being positioned correctly over the body, for example, under the arm (in 34% of the cases) or across the abdomen instead of over the shoulder and pelvis.
Not only does this reduce the effectiveness of the seat, but it also increases the risk of serious injuries such as internal injuries to the abdomen and chest.
Remove the winter coat
In addition, it is recommended that children remove their winter coats before being secured in their seats. Only one in five people (18%) follow this recommendation systematically, while more than a quarter (28%) never do so, according to the survey.
This precaution is essential, especially for seats with a harness system. In the event of a collision, the thick coat is compressed by the straps’ pressure, creating dangerous slack between the harness and the child’s body. In other words, the child is less securely fastened than expected. In the event of a severe impact, this can lead to serious injuries or even being thrown out of the seat.
Three criteria to switch to a different seat
In addition, many parents and caregivers experience uncertainty: which seat is suitable, how long a child can remain in it, when it is time for the next model, or how to install it correctly? This uncertainty sometimes leads to poor decisions or misuse.
There are only three criteria to consider when determining that it is time to switch to a different seat: if the child exceeds the maximum weight specified for the seat; if their head sticks out above the seat (the fact that the child’s legs stick out does not affect their safety and does not justify changing seats); and if the harness straps no longer fit properly around their shoulders.
More information on the right car seat for your child is available on the AWSR website, the Vias website (NL), and the Brussels Capital Region website (English).
