Are you safer in the rear or front seat of cars?

William Atkins
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 23:11

Science - Health

An Australian study using U.S. data has shown that 50-year-old passengers in the back seat of cars are at more risk of injury or death than those in the front seat because safety features are lacking. What about younger adults and children?

 

The researchers' study is published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.

The article is entitled 'A matched-cohort analysis of belted front and rear seat occupants in newer and older model vehicles shows that gains in front occupant safety have outpaced gains for rear seat occupants' (volume 42, issue 6, November 2010, pages 1974-1977; doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.06.002).

In the past, it was commonly felt by people (and backed up by research studies) that rear-seat occupants had less risk of injuries and death than did front seat passengers and drivers. Children are placed in the rear seat of automobiles for their added safety. However, is this still the best place to seat them? Please read on.

Over the past two decades, technological improvements have been made that significantly reduces the risk of injuries and death for front seat passengers.

Therefore, the goal of the study was to determine whether rear passengers or front passengers and drivers are more safe while riding in cars.

They also wanted to find out if older cars or newer cars provide more safety to these passengers and drivers.

The researchers of the study include Lynne E. Bilston (Neuroscience Research Australia and Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales), Wei Du (The George Institute for International Health, University of Sydney, Australia), and Julie Brown (Neuroscience Research Australia and School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia).

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