child car restraints

[eneman]

Just a quick question.
How many FGs make sure their kids are buckled up and safe in the car and how many of their Japanese relatives do the same?

Asking this because my inlaws persist in allowing my daughter to ride unrestrained in their car (when I am not there to stop them) even though I have said countless times why I want her in her child seat. I feel like a fucking cop, just because I want my daughter to be safe. Even my wife sometimes does it. Where the fuck are their brains at?
I know they say they do not like the kids crying but once precedent has been set, then the kid wants the freedom all the time. Makes my life a hassle that need not be.

Taro, you seem up on these things - how many kids connect with the windscreen or dashboard in an accident and lose their lives? What are the laws on buckling kids up? Why do I see so many cars with kids not safely secured and oblivious adults at the wheel or in the passenger seat?

I`m getting sick of bitching about it here and to other people. What are the chances of change?

[dimwit]

Just a quick question.
What are the laws on buckling kids up? Why do I see so many cars with kids not safely secured and oblivious adults at the wheel or in the passenger seat?

The laws in Japan are the same as in other countries -young children are required to ride in child restraint devices. Enforcement of the law is another matter and I don't know if police ever stop people from breaking that law unless they are caught at spot-checks.

[cstaylor]

Just a quick question.
How many FGs make sure their kids are buckled up and safe in the car and how many of their Japanese relatives do the same?

I always buckle in my 4 yr-old niece, but we never use a child seat with our 2 yr-old nephew.

[kurohinge1]

Interesting topic - when we were visiting the Nara outlaws in April, we borrowed one to use and I noticed that almost all of my wife's home-town friends used them, but I remember someone saying that they'd only just made them legally required and that alot of people were grumbling about that.

Of course there seemed to be no shortage of shopping-laden mothers prepared to ride bikes in traffic with infants on front and back and not a helmet between them - but that's been discussed in at least one other thread before. In fact, in one month I only spotted two helmets, which is two more than last time we were there.

Anyway, I googled the topic and according to the Information Service for Better Living:

The road and traffic laws have been revised and as of April 2000, and parents are obliged to use a child restraint system, when traveling by car.

According to the investigation by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), in the past 5 years, the death rate of infants involved in car accidents was 0.24% for those without a child restraint system, which is 8 times higher than the 0.03% of those with child restraint systems. In addition, the rate of being seriously injured was 2.36% for the former and 0.82% for the latter. This data shows quite clearly that child restraint system is of extreme importance.

In case the child restraint system is not available for structural reasons, or when transporting an ill or obese child who cannot use the child seat, or when transporting to a hospital in an emergency, or when riding a taxi or a bus, the use of the child restraint system is exempted, and would not be a violation to the law. However, except for the previous cases, the child restraint system must be used. In case of violation, 1 point is deducted from your driver's license.

In order to protect your precious child, the use of the child restraint system is strongly urged...

Please do your best to convince your wife and relatives to use the restraint as it would have to be one of life's greatest curses to outlive your children, especially when it could've been prevented.