THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RECENT tragic accident (Sunday October 6, 2002) on Washington Blvd, which claimed five lives, two of which were babies, have forced me to write this letter.
It is a fact that 'car seats' and 'booster seats' prevent injuries and save lives. It is law in USA and UK that babies and small children must be restrained in such devices.
If a child is under four years and 40 pounds a 'car seat' is required. And if you think after that a regular seat belt will do - you are wrong. Safety experts and engineers know that lap-shoulder belts cannot protect anyone less than five feet tall. In the USA the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that nearly 500 children between the ages of four and eight years old are killed in car crashes every year despite being buckled in by a regular adult seat belt. Therefore it is imperative that a booster seat be used after outgrowing the car seat until the child is eight years old or over 80 pounds.
I know economics plays a role in whether parents possess these items, but what price can be put on a child's life? Perhaps Government could help by eliminating all duties and taxes on baby car seats and booster seats thereby reducing the price making them more affordable to more people, hence encouraging more parents to purchase.
Perhaps the National Road Safety Agency could make some advertisements for TV to educate more people on the importance of using such restraints and the dangers of not doing so. I have seen one road sign on Mandela Highway recommending car seat use, but more could be done.
I would like to use this medium to urge all parents to use their baby car seats at all times and to urge those parents who do not have one to make a priority to buy one! Your child's life depends on it!
I am, etc.,
TRACEY McNAIR
58 Norbrook Drive
Kingston 8
