Holden is launching a free mobile child restraint safety inspection service in Sydney today to raise awareness about the proper use of infant capsules and child restraints.

The new mobile service will visit kindergartens, child care centres and crèches in the Sydney metropolitan area, checking restraints in all makes and models of vehicles.

This is the first free mobile inspection service of its kind in Sydney, and has been initiated based on the demand for Holden's equivalent service in Melbourne. To date, the service has inspected 1,092 restraints in Melbourne, since March 2003, with more than 70 per cent of child restraints found to be fitted incorrectly.

Holden's community service initiative is aimed at reducing the injuries that can result from the misuse of child restraints and supporting road safety generally. In New South Wales there have been 43 fatalities from traffic accidents in the 0 - 16 year-old age group in the last year (May 2003 - May 2004).* Furthermore, transport accidents are the most common external cause of death for children 0-17 years in NSW. **

The mobile service will be undertaken by a specialist RTA Authorised Fitter, Keith Pearce, who will be on hand to provide assessments and advice to parents, to rectify mistakes and advise parents on appropriate usage. Parents will also be provided with written summaries and recommendations.

Some common errors include placing a child in a seat that is inappropriate for the child's weight and height; not anchoring the child seat tightly enough; not using top tether straps; incorrectly threading seat belts; loose and unbuckled seat belts and twisted and damaged seat belts.

*Source - RTA New South Wales - www.rta.nsw.gov.au


**Source - MAA New South Wales - www.rta.nsw.gov.au


Holden Innovation Chief Engineer Dr Laurie Sparke says that the mobile service will make child seat safety checks more immediately available for busy parents and hopes it will ultimately lead to a lowering of child injury risks.

"Around 1,300 child occupants are severely injured or killed on Australian roads each year," Dr Sparke said.

"Research shows that while misuse of child restraints can cause serious injuries, children who are properly restrained survive very high speed crashes - in many cases with only minor injuries or bruising.

"The mobile child seat inspection service is aimed at promoting better protection through proper usage and fitment," Dr Sparke said.

The inspection service forms part of Holden's practical approach to addressing vehicle-related child safety issues and improving public awareness of their importance.

Through its dealer network, Holden has made available the Safe-n-Sound dedicated rear-facing baby capsule and forward-facing child seat which performed best in a Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) laboratory crash test program that studied different types of restraints in real vehicles.

Holden's long-term strategy involves further collaborative research and crash test programs with the MUARC to address some of the fitment problems encountered. They focus on improved head protection against side impact forces and on evaluating systems that are a more integral part of the vehicle structure.

Those interested in organising an inspection event at their Sydney-based child care centre or school, should contact Belinda Simmons on 1800 223 076 toll free between 9am and 5pm.

Holden's public education campaign on the correct use of child restraints commenced in 2002 with a series of national child seat inspections held at Holden dealer outlets.

The child safety education campaign forms part of the company's community relations program that invests around $2 million annually in addressing social issues in the area of education and technology, community safety, the environment and local communities and social services.


Full press release can be found here