8 of 10 Parents Say Rear-Facing Infants in Backseat a Road Hazard
19 October 1999
FEATURE/Eight of Ten Parents Say Rear-Facing Infants in Backseat a Serious Road Hazard
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.--Oct. 18, 1999--In stark contrast to current transportation safety guidelines, a new survey shows a majority of parents believe infants in the back seat create a serious distraction for drivers -- one that could result in an accident.According to the survey released today by the Fraser Group and NFO Worldwide, nearly 60 percent of U.S. parents say that driving alone with infants in rear-facing car seats placed in the back seat is "very distracting," and almost eight in ten fear it could cause an accident.
The push to strap all children in the back seat is driven by the danger posed from passenger-side airbags; children's small bodies cannot withstand the powerful impact an airbag makes when deployed, nor can currently available, rear-facing infant seats. In passenger- side airbag crash tests, those seats are often thrust against the front seat, putting the infant at risk of serious harm.
The problem, according to the survey, is that placing infants in the back seat creates a whole new set of problems. Unlike older children, infants need near-constant attention from their parents -- which may be heightened by putting them in a position where they cannot even see a parent. The more anxious the infant, the more likely he or she is to distract the parent from paying attention to the road.
The industry is becoming increasingly aware of the issue, addressing it primarily through switches that turn passenger-side airbags on and off. Another solution, a rear-facing infant seat built to absorb the shock of an airbag deployment, is also in development. According to the parents of infants surveyed by NFO, the new solutions are welcome:
- 95 percent said it is easier to tend to an infant riding in the front seat.
- 83 percent believe fewer accidents would happen with infants in the front seat.
- 73 percent said they would use an airbag-compatible, rear-facing infant seat.
The Fraser Group, an internationally known market research company, contracted with NFO Worldwide, a leading surveyer of national trends, to interview 476 households with infants during the month of September, producing results at a 95 percent confidence level, with plus or minus five percent precision.
