A Japanese study published as a research letter in this week’s issue of THE LANCET estimates that around 80% of deaths from front-seat car passengers could be prevented if rear-seat passengers wore seat belts.
The risk of death of unbelted rear-seat occupants is 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. Masao Ichikawa and colleagues from the University of Tokyo, Japan, compared the risk of death and severe injury of front-seat occupants in car crashes with belted or unbelted rear-seat passengers.
The investigators assessed data for car crashes which involved around 100,000 crashes over a five-year period where there were at least two 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, the investigators estimate that around 80% of deaths of belted front-seat occupants could have been avoided.
Masao Ichikawa comments: “Our findings provide a basis for making rear seatbelt use compulsory. Most deaths and severe injuries of front-seat occupants of cars would potentially be averted by rear seatbelt use. To reduce the burden of road traffic injuries, we recommend that all car occupants should wear seatbelts for protection of not only themselves but also the other passengers.”
Contact: Mr Masao Ichikawa, Department of Community Health, School of International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; T) +81 3 5841 3698; F) +81 3 5841 3422; E) masao@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Journal
The Lancet