Child Restraint Law Ignored in Singapore
Strong Enforcement Would Reduce Deaths and Injuries among Children
Apr 7, 2009
It is hard not to notice the number of children standing-up and playing in cars in Singapore. Surprisingly, the result of a 2005 survey showed that "primary caregivers had good knowledge of road safety." The results of this survey were published in a Singapore Medical Journal article entitled "Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Childhood Injuries and their Prevention by Primary Caregivers in Singapore." However, implementation of this knowledge is also important.
In addition, enforcement of the 1993 law on child restraints appears low but is on the rise. According to the Traffic Police's Assistant Road Safety Officer at the Road Safety Branch, Tina Hee Wei Ting, in a personal interview on April 9, 2009, 300 fines were issued last year for child seat related offenses. According to a 2007 status paper on "Road Safety in Singapore" by Mr. Ho Seng Tim, there were only 50 child restraint fines issued in 2006. In comparison, 3588 fines were issued to drivers who were not wearing their seat belts.
The figures vary for children injured in traffic accidents. Last year, according to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 968 children were injured in all types of road traffic accidents. However, Ms. Hee reported only 15 injuries of unrestrained children. The hospital also reported to ChannelNewsAsia in an April 30, 2008 article that there were 100 cases of injured children in car accidents for 2007. However, these figures do not include whether or not the child was restrained.
Usage Rate Shown to Increase with Enforcement and Informational Campaigns
Legislation is essential, but "will not achieve high wearing rates unless it is part of a comprehensive programme of legislation, enforcement, publicity, incentives and encouragement," according to Seat-belts and Child Restraints: A Road Safety Manual for Decision-Maker's and Practitioners by the World Health Organization (WHO)and other global partners in 2009.
The Traffic Police in Singapore have been concentrating more on education with selective enforcement. "Traffic Police has always educated motorists on belting up. . . . This message has been repeatedly highlighted in our Road Safety Outreach Campaign, road safety exhibitions and talks targeting all road users in the past," stated Ms. Hee.
According to Ms. Hee, they have also been distributing copies of a book entitled James and The Big Red Car [Singapore: Traffic Police Department, 1998] to schools and childcare centres. It tells the story of a boy who was injured because he did not buckle up. The fine for not buckling up is $120 but can reach as high as $1000 if charged in court, including possible jail time. The fines are worse with subsequent offenses.
In the U.S., strong enforcement of seat-belt laws between 2000-2004, increased usage and decreased fatality rates in every age group, according to the 2009 WHO Seat-belts and Child Restraints manual cited above. Child restraint usage has been continuing to climb in the U.S. In addition, a strong correlation is shown between drivers that belt-up and and the use of child restraints. According to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), child restraint use climbed up to 92% with belted drivers in 2007 from 87% in 2006. In comparison, unbelted driver's showed an increase as well, but only from 58% in 2006 to 61% percent in 2007.
Car seat clinics are another way to increase usage, by instructing parents on proper installation. The clinics are shown to be very effective according to a 2005 study performed by Safe Kids Worldwide. Data collected in 29 states in the U.S. "found that parents successfully changed their behavior and retained their child passenger safety knowledge six weeks after receiving hands-on instruction." When used properly, child seats have been found to reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants under 1 year of age and 54% for toddlers 1-4 years old. Currently, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S.
Child Seats Save Little Lives
Community information campaigns and publicity are also interconnected in any success rate. Singapore had a popular campaign entitled Child Seats Save Little Lives campaign last April.
Currently, according to Thomson Medical Centre (TMC), there are no immediate plans to continue last year's 5-month long campaign. The campaign was an effort on the parts of TMC, the Singapore Traffic Police and Volvo Cars. The idea evolved from a concerned letter to TMC by Australian expatriate Susie Lawson after she gave birth and witnessed the lack of child seat usage first hand. Australia and many states in the U.S. require car seats to be installed before a newborn is allowed to go home from the hospital. This is not the case in most Asian countries, including Singapore.
Buckle-Up
In conclusion, a strong correlation has been shown between drivers who buckle-up and the use of child restraints. The informational campaigns are also great publicity and very important in getting the message across. However, Ms. Hee agrees, stating that the "effectiveness of these efforts will depend on the mindset of each and every road user". In addition, the research in the U.S. also shows that strong enforcement is needed for any success.
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