6歳未満の子どもの車内での過ごし方と保護者の意識: 子どもの着座位置およびチャイルドシートの使用状況について

This study assesses the seating position of children under six years in their parent’s vehicles, particularly, whether or not young children use a child’s car seat when traveling in their parent’s, friend’s, or relative’s vehicles.　We distributed a questionnaire survey targeting parents with young children.　Of the respondents, 33% used the front passenger seat as a child’s safety seat. In addition, 69% of the respondents reported that their children used a car seat for short excursions such as shopping in the neighborhood, and 90% answered that their children used a child’s seat when traveling longer distances.　However, only 9% of the respondents stated that their children did not travel in vehicles owned by friends or relatives if they were unable to use a child’s safety seat.　Parents who reported not using a child’s seat stated that this was because the child was reluctant to use the seat and/or that the installation of a seat proved to be too difficult.