Nearly Half of Young Children Could Survive Fatal Car Crashes with Proper Rear-Facing Seats, Swedish Study Finds

A comprehensive analysis by Folksam, conducted in cooperation with Chalmers University of Technology and Volvo Cars, examined all fatal car accidents in Sweden involving children aged 0-6 from 2000 to 2023. The study found that 99 children died in these incidents, with one-third not wearing seatbelts. Notably, 58 of the deceased children were three years old or younger.

The research revealed that nearly 48% of these youngest children would have survived if they had been in rear-facing car seats, highlighting the critical importance of this safety measure. Current recommendations in Sweden advise children remain in rear-facing seats until at least the age of four to accommodate the developmental limitations of young children's neck muscles. Despite Sweden's reputation as a leader in child vehicle safety, many parents prematurely switch their children to forward-facing seats, often due to misconceptions about their child's comfort.

Maria Klingegård, a traffic safety researcher at Folksam, emphasized that while vehicle safety features have improved, a child's survival in crashes largely depends on proper seating. The study highlighted a key factor in survival that has not improved significantly over time: the correct use of rear-facing car seats.

Sweden's child fatality rates in car accidents are comparatively lower than countries like Germany, where rear-facing seat use tends to end earlier. This research underscores the need for increased parental education and stricter adherence to rear-facing seat guidelines to further reduce child fatalities in vehicle accidents.