A new survey by the Land Transport Safety Authority shows that nearly one in five toddlers are not properly restrained when travelling.
It reveals that 82% of children are not buckled in properly, an improvement on 79% in 2000 and 74% in 1997.
The survey shows that child restraint use varies across the country.
Otago has the highest rate, at 97%, but Northland and Manukau City had the lowest rates, both at 69%.
LTSA Director David Wright told Mike Hosking on ONE Breakfast that parents might be failing to restrain their children because of apathy or an unawareness of the risks involved.
But he says people across the board can have access to the right safety restraints.
"There are car seats available, there are rental schemes running... for less than the price of a tank of gas kids can be restrained."
Wright says the LTSA is working with Plunket and funding marae-based programmes to assist problem areas.
Latest Breakfast Video
-
te-karere-121111-fri - te-karere-121111-fri (0:22:30)
-
Marae Investigates - Series 2012, Episode 13
-
Marae Investigates - Series 2011, Episode 15 (0:29:10)
