LAPSEVANEMATE TEADLIKKUS I GRUPI LASTE TURVATOOLIDE KASUTAMISEST AUTOS
Parents’ awareness of using group I car safety seat
Kristi Vahur, Inga Ploomipuu, Ketlin Sangla Abstract In increasingly intensive traffic situation it is important that people could travel as safely as possible. In Estonia, safety on the roads is regulated by the Traffic Act that obligates both adults and children to use specially designed safety devices correctly. A toddler’s body needs a compatible safety device that would provide maximum protection of his/her body and head because of the specific developmental needs related to age. Children are not able to take care of their own safety, so it is important that parents were aware of the correct use of safety equipment. The purpose of this research study was to identify the awareness of safety equipment among parents who use a group I child safety seat. The survey was carried out in 18 kindergartens using a questionnaire; nine kindergartens were located in rural municipalities and nine in cities. The questionnaire was developed and the kindergartens were selected in cooperation with the leading specialist of the Road Administration. Responses were obtained from 252 parents. Distribution of questionnaires and initial analysis of the responses took place over the Internet ensuring anonymity of the parents. The results showed that parents are mostly driving their children in a vehicle more than three times a week. Parents use child seats that are bought in a second hand market as well as from stores and most of the time children are placed on the back seat for safety reasons. Most of the parents are aware of how to choose a child seat and 78.6% of the respondents always use an appropriate child seat. The respondents’ knowledge of the second-hand safety equipment is insufficient, and this research study revealed that more than a half of the 111
