title: Non-fatal injuries sustained by back seat passengers.
abstract: Of 2,275 cases of non-fatal injuries sustained by all categories of road users 185 were inflicted on back seat passengers. Twenty-six such passengers sustained severe and 66 moderately severe injuries. Only two patients (aged 18 months and 3 years) wore any form of restraint. Back seat passengers may be injured by impact with the rear of the front seat or other objects in the rear compartment; by objects in the front compartment; or by being thrown out of the car completely. An adequate restraint system, such as the lap-and-diagnoal type of seat belt, would reduce the incidence and severity of injuries.
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001336:Automobiles; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries; D011247:Pregnancy; D012622:Seat Belts; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*