We have recently completed a major accident investigation study of the injuries sustained by child motor vehicle occupants, in collaboration with the Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital. The results from this study show that children who are not correctly using an appropriate restraint for their size are at an increased risk of serious or fatal injury. On the other hand, optimally restrained children did not sustain any serious injuries. Click here to view the report.

Spinal injuries in children are fortunately rare, but motor vehicle-related trauma is a leading cause of these injuries. Our recent study has investigated the causes of motor-vehicle related spinal injury in children. The final report for this study in available here.

   Click here to download Child Restraint Guidelines

We are currently undertaking laboratory crash simulations of some of these crashes to determine whether the injuries sustained by the children in specific crash circumstances could have been prevented by using alternative restraint systems.

We are beginning a major new project, funded by an ARC Linkage grant with partners the Motor Accidents Authority and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, which is looking at the types of restraints children are currently using, and whether they are being used correctly. We will also look at whether current restraints are providing good fit for children, and examine how all these factors affect the risk of injury in a crash.

 Key researchers

Lynne Bilston, Julie Brown, Michael Yuen. Students include Aizza Biason and Byron Kwok

Key publications

M. Huot, J. Brown, P. Kelly, L. E. Bilston, “Effectiveness of high back belt positioning booster seats in side impacts”, Traffic Injury Prevention, 6:147-155, 2005

L.E. Bilston, J. Brown, and P. Kelly “Improved protection for children in forward facing restraints during side impacts”, Traffic Injury Prevention, 6:135-146, 2005

Brown J, Bilston L, McCaskill M. Injury implications of inappropriate use of adult seatbelt systems for children aged 2-8. 2003 Road Safety Research, Education and Policing Conference, Sydney, September 2003.