Families consider the safety of their children a top priority. Unfortunately, among children age’s 3-14, car accidents are the number one cause of death. Parents need to take extra precautions in order to help their children stay safe. They can do this by properly restraining children by using car seats correctly.

More than 1,500 children under the age of 14 were killed in car accidents in 2003. In addition, 220,000 injuries occurred. However, using a car seat effectively can reduce these incidents drastically. In facts, studies show that deaths are reduced by approximately 70%. Alarmingly, about 75% of car seats aren’t installed properly. Also scary is that half of the deaths are children who aren’t restrained at all.

General Motors has recognized this problem by creating a program called Safe Kids Buckle Up. This program helps parents understand how important it is to restrain children correctly. The program has inspected over 900,000 car seats around the nation.

Parents need to take extra precautions to keep their children safe on the road. To do this, parents should use car seats correctly, drive defensively, and have a good emergency roadside assistance program. After all, children are precious cargo.