Like several other implements of child abuse, motor vehicles are household necessities. If not used properly, however, they can be deadly weapons. A ride in the family van, sports utility vehicle (SUV), pickup truck or sedan can become lethal if adults do not take appropriate precautions, including using proper child restraints and avoiding DUI restraints. Further, when an adult leaves an unsupervised child in an automobile, the adult takes an almost unconscionable risk, subjecting the child to a myriad of life-threatening situations, including heat exhaustion, suffocation, and physical injury. This monograph addresses motor vehicle occupant protection.
