title: Mortality of front-seat occupants attributable to unbelted rear-seat passengers in car crashes.
abstract: The risk of death of unbelted rear-seat occupants is obviously increased in car crashes. However, there is little epidemiological evidence that unbelted rear-seat occupants will also increase the risk of death of front-seat passengers. We compared risk of death and severe injury of front-seat occupants in car crashes with belted or unbelted rear-seat passengers. The risk of death of belted front-seat occupants with unbelted rear-seat passengers was raised nearly five-fold. If rear seatbelts had been used, almost 80% of deaths of belted front-seat occupants could have been avoided. Rear seatbelt use should be encouraged for the safety of all car occupants.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakai
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology*