According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for the age group 2 to 14 years old.

The NHTSA, in its 2006 Children Traffic Safety Facts has also stated that every day in the United States, an average of 5 children, from the ages 14 and younger were killed and 568 were injured in motor vehicle crashes during 2006.

A child’s safety in the car, as well as preventing child injury in case of car accidents should always be a priority. Children are very vulnerable and because of their frail bodies, are more apt to get terribly hurt if things go wrong on the road.

The following are laws as well as safety measures which parents should take note of especially when it comes to preventing child injury and fatality.

• Any child under the age of six years weighing less than 60 pounds, must be secured in a federally-approved child passenger restraint system and ride in the back seat of a vehicle.

It is important to make sure that the proper car seat installation is checked by local authorities such as local law enforcement or the fire department or to a Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician in your area. Also, as the child grows, check with the abovementioned authorities to confirm that the car seat is the correct size for your child.

• Children ages six years and older, but less than 16 years, and children under age six years, who weigh more than 60 pounds, must be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system or safety belt which meets federal safety standards.

• Generally, a child may not ride in the front seat of an airbag-equipped vehicle if the child:

a. Less than one years old

b. Weighs less than 20 pounds

c. Is riding in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system

• However, a child under the age of six years, weighing less than 60 pounds, may ride in the front seat of a vehicle when:

a. There is no rear seat or the rear seats are either side-facing jump seats or rear-facing seats.

b. The child passenger restraint sys¬tem cannot be installed properly in the rear seat.

c. All rear seats are already occupied by children under the age of 12 years.

d. A medical reason requires the child to ride in the front seat.

• Studies have shown that children who are leaning against a side air bag when it inflates are at risk of serious injury. These studies also show that children who are traveling in an age and weight-appropriate, and correctly installed child restraint system, are not at risk of serious injury.

• Also, when driving within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street, the speed limit is 25 mph. Always drive more carefully near schools, play¬grounds, parks, and residential areas because children may suddenly dart into the street.