Fatal accidents involving children in traffic are terrible. Fortunately, the number has been greatly reduced in recent years. Up to 90 percent, a new report shows.
In Denmark, the number of fatal accidents and serious injuries among children in traffic has fallen by almost 90 percent since it became mandatory in 1995 to fasten children in car seats.
Before the law came into force, seven children aged 0-10 lost their lives in car accidents in 1995, and 92 were seriously injured. The latest figures from the Road Directorate show a marked improvement: in 2023, 10 children were seriously injured, while no one lost their life.
This is what FDM writes in a press release .
– The development is not only due to the fact that the cars have become safer, but also that the car seats have been improved.
– This is shown by the latest test of car seats that FDM has carried out in collaboration with European car clubs and consumer organisations, says automotive technical editor at FDM Soren W. Rasmussen.
READ ALSO: Over every third Danish motorist is a danger in traffic
FDM's test of 17 car seats showed that 12 of the seats were acceptable, while four were acceptable with reservations. One chair failed the test due to harmful chemistry.
The test assessed various aspects of the car seats, including safety in collisions, both from the front and from the side. The rear-facing car seats for the smallest children proved to be particularly safe.
In addition to safety in the event of collisions, it is also important that the car seat is easy to install correctly in the car and that the child can be easily fastened. The new car seats generally perform well in these respects.
It is important to fit and use car seats correctly, including fastening the child in the right way. In winter, it can be difficult to get the harnesses to sit close to the body when children are wearing thick outerwear.
If the seat belts do not fit correctly, they cannot hold the child in place in the event of a collision. A solution can be to remove the thick jacket and instead put it over the child when it is fastened," says Soren W. Rasmussen.
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