Issues of child occupant protection: A literature review

Though there have been considerable reductions in child mortality and morbidity due to motor vehicle crashes in the past twenty years, road trauma is still a leading cause of death for children in motorised countries and thus an important health and safety issue in Australia. This review identifies key issues of child occupant protection such as the use of ageappropriate child restraints, effects of misuse of restraints, and rear seating of children. Current research findings, with particular emphasis on Australian data, are discussed in relation to avenues that offer potential for enhancing levels of protection.