A new study has found that the majority of parents are moving their children from rear-facing seats to front-facing seats too early, reports the Chicago Tribune.
This year, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised previous guidelines on the use of car seats to recommend that parents keep their children in rear-facing seats until they turn two. The reason for this was a separate study that found children under two in these seats were 75 percent less likely to die in car crashes.
However, it appears that many parents have yet to be made aware of these findings. The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health shows that 30 percent of parents are using front-facing seats before age one. Three-quarters are making the switch between age one and two.
"The results of the survey highlight how much work we have to do in making safer choices for our children," Michelle Macy of the University of Michigan told the news source.
Even the most safety-conscious parents need to be aware that unexpected mechanical failures can lead to accidents out on the road. If you haven't been keeping up with your car maintenance, it might be time to look into a set of new tires or having your brakes serviced to ensure everything is working properly.