Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of unintentional death and injury in West Virginia. The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program is charged with reducing these crashes, injuries and fatalities on West Virginia's roadways through programs that support law enforcement and educate the public.
One area of highway safety that receives grant money and is a top priority is occupant protection. In a recent study by the West Virginia Child Fatality Review team, lack of occupant protection was a major factor in the deaths of a significant number of children between the years 1999 and 2004.
According to the West Virginia study, almost a third of the 1,506 child deaths during these five years could have been prevented. Of that third, 237 deaths involved children in motor vehicle crashes. Some of those motor vehicle crashes may have been too violent to survive, but in many of the crashes, a car seat, safety belt or helmet could have made the difference between life and death. In fact, of those 237 deaths, approximately 75 percent involved a fatality where there was no occupant protection being used for the child.
In July 2005, the West Virginia Child Passenger Safety Law changed to require that all children up to the age of 8 have to be properly secured in a federally approved child safety seat, unless the child reaches the height of 4 feet 9 inches tall before their eighth birthday. The day they turn 8, a seat belt becomes legally sufficient. Parents and caregivers need to take the law seriously and not only follow the law, but take the proper steps to make sure that all children are safely secured all the time and every trip. According to the National Highway Administration, car seats are 71 percent effective in reducing infant deaths and 54 percent effective in reducing deaths for the ages of 1 through 4. Seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent .
One of the biggest gaps in occupant protection has always been for children ages 4-7, when many convertible car seats are too small, but seat belts do not yet fit properly across their chests and lower hips/upper thighs. To bridge the gap, many states, including West Virginia, have upgraded their child passenger safety laws to require the use of booster seats once the conventional car seats have been outgrown, up to the age of 8. According to a study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, "Children ages 4 to 7 who use booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than children who are restrained only by a seat belt."
The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program continues to be a strong advocate for child passenger safety in motor vehicles in the state. More needs to be done, and the GHSP is committed to continue examining ways to promote occupant protection, enforce highway safety laws and reduce injuries and fatalities on West Virginia roads, but can not do it alone. The GHSP needs the help of all parents and caregivers. Please remember to restrain your children in child safety seats, booster seats and seat belts. And always buckle up yourself -- you will be setting a good example for your children, and it may save your life, too!
Natalie D. Harvey is the public affairs/child passenger safety administrator for the West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program.
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