Child Car Seats
Child car seats, also known as child restraints, are designed to protect children from injury or death during vehicle collisions. In many countries, including the United States, the use of child car seats is mandatory for children under a certain age or size. Despite the proven effectiveness of these devices in reducing child fatalities and injuries, some parents still resist using them, citing reasons such as cost, inconvenience, or the belief that ( 1 ).
Research has consistently shown that properly installed child car seats significantly reduce the risk of injury and death for children in the event of a crash. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in passenger cars. However, the effectiveness of child car seats depends on ( 2 ). Common mistakes include not securing the seat tightly enough, not adjusting the harness straps properly, or using a seat that is not appropriate for the child’s age, weight, or height.
To ensure the safety of child passengers, it is crucial for parents and caregivers to educate themselves on the proper use and installation of child car seats. Many organizations, such as Safe Kids Worldwide, offer free car seat inspections and education programs to help parents ( 3 ). By taking the time to learn about and correctly use child car seats, parents can help protect their children from the potentially devastating consequences of a vehicle crash.
(1)
1. they are only necessary for long trips
2. they can interfere with a child’s comfort
3. the seats are too difficult to install correctly
4. their child is safer in their arms
(2)
1. the materials used in their construction
2. the country in which they are manufactured
3. proper installation and use
4. the price of the car seat
(3)
1. choose the most expensive car seats
2. avoid using child car seats altogether
3. ensure they are using child car seats correctly
4. learn about alternative child restraint methods
【重要単語＆熟語チェック】
重要単語:
1. Child car seats / child restraints (チャイルドシート/チャイルド・リストレイント)
2. Protect (保護する)
3. Mandatory (義務的な)
4. Effectiveness (有効性)
5. Reducing child fatalities and injuries (子どもの死亡率と負傷率を減らす)
6. Properly installed (適切に取り付けられた)
7. Risk of injury and death (負傷と死亡のリスク)
8. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (米国運輸省道路交通安全局)
9. Proper installation and use (適切な取り付けと使用)
10. Harness straps (ハーネスストラップ)
11. Appropriate (適切な)
12. Safe Kids Worldwide (セーフ・キッズ・ワールドワイド)
13. Car seat inspections and education programs (チャイルドシートの点検と教育プログラム)
14. Vehicle crash (車両事故)
【問題の解答と解説】
(1) 4. their child is safer in their arms
解説: 一部の親が子供を腕に抱くほうが安全だと信じていることが、チャイルドシートを使用しない理由の一つとして挙げられています。
(2) 3. proper installation and use
解説: チャイルドシートの効果は、適切な取り付けと使用方法に依存することが述べられています。
(3) 3. ensure they are using child car seats correctly
解説: 親が子供の安全を確保するために、チャイルドシートの適切な使用と取り付け方法を学ぶ必要があると述べられています。
【音読用全文】
Child Car Seats
Child car seats, also known as child restraints, are designed to protect children from injury or death during vehicle collisions. In many countries, including the United States, the use of child car seats is mandatory for children under a certain age or size. Despite the proven effectiveness of these devices in reducing child fatalities and injuries, some parents still resist using them, citing reasons such as cost, inconvenience, or the belief that their child is safer in their arms.
Research has consistently shown that properly installed child car seats significantly reduce the risk of injury and death for children in the event of a crash. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in passenger cars. However, the effectiveness of child car seats depends on proper installation and use. Common mistakes include not securing the seat tightly enough, not adjusting the harness straps properly, or using a seat that is not appropriate for the child’s age, weight, or height.
To ensure the safety of child passengers, it is crucial for parents and caregivers to educate themselves on the proper use and installation of child car seats. Many organizations, such as Safe Kids Worldwide, offer free car seat inspections and education programs to help parents ensure they are using child car seats correctly. By taking the time to learn about and correctly use child car seats, parents can help protect their children from the potentially devastating consequences of a vehicle crash.
【日本語訳】
チャイルドカーシート
チャイルドカーシート（別名：チャイルドリストレイント）は、車両衝突の際に子供を負傷や死亡から守るために設計されています。米国を含む多くの国では、一定の年齢またはサイズ以下の子供に対してチャイルドカーシートの使用が義務付けられています。これらの装置が子供の死亡率と負傷率を減らすのに効果的であることが証明されているにもかかわらず、コスト、不便さ、または子供が自分の腕の中で安全だと信じていることなどの理由から、使用に抵抗する親もいます。
研究により、適切に取り付けられたチャイルドカーシートは、衝突の際に子供の負傷や死亡のリスクを大幅に減らすことが一貫して示されています。米国運輸省道路交通安全局の研究によると、乗用車での乳児の致死的な負傷のリスクを71％、幼児では54％減少させることがわかりました。ただし、チャイルドカーシートの効果は、適切な取り付けと使用に依存します。一般的な間違いには、シートを十分にしっかりと固定していない、ハーネスストラップを適切に調整していない、または子供の年齢、体重、身長に適していないシートを使用することなどがあります。
子供の乗客の安全を確保するには、親や保護者がチャイルドカーシートの適切な使用と取り付けについて自ら学ぶことが重要です。セーフキッズワールドワイドなどの多くの組織は、親がチャイルドカーシートを正しく使用していることを確認するための無料のカーシート検査と教育プログラムを提供しています。チャイルドカーシートについて学び、正しく使用するために時間を割くことで、親は車両衝突の潜在的に壊滅的な影響から子供を守ることができます。
