Research supports ban on lap seatbelts in vehicles

A new study has come out in support of a ban on lap seatbelts in vehicles.

The study, carried out at the Starship hospital in Auckland, found lap seatbelts can result in life-threatening injuries or permanent disability in children.

Last week, Huntly coroner Bob McDermott called for lap seatbelts to be banned, saying they caused shocking injuries and killed people.

He recommended three-point seatbelts be made compulsory.

More than a million cars on New Zealand roads have lap seatbelts or no seatbelt in the rear centre seat.

In the study, researchers conducted a retrospective review of admissions to the Starship from 1996 to 2003 involving significant injuries following a car accident while the child was wearing a lap seatbelt.

Almost 60 per cent of patients were less than 8 years old and were restrained with lap seatbelts.

Researchers said it was likely that many of the patients would have sustained more serious injuries if they hadn't been restrained at all.

However, three-point lap and shoulder belts, child seats, and booster seats had an even greater ability to reduce serious injury or death than the two-point lap-belt, they said.

"We support recommendations for the introduction of legislation to ensure two-point lap belts are rapidly phased out.

"Similarly, legislation should require children who weigh less than 35kg or whose height is less than 145cm, usually around age 8 to 12 years, to travel in a belt-positioning booster seat," researchers said.

"The introduction of such legislation needs to be supported by an education programme, further enforcement of current seat-belt laws, and initiatives to make child restraints and booster seats more easily accessible to the public."

The Minister of Transport Safety, Harry Duynhoven, has said he would advise new car buyers to buy only those with three-point belts and preferably the latest technology belts.

He said it was too simplistic to ban lap belts.

- NZPA