A new survey conducted by the Swedish insurer Svedea among its customers reveals a concerning trend: one in four parents has allowed their child to ride in a car without the proper protection at some point. The results point to a clear pattern: it isn't always a lack of knowledge that puts children at risk—it is the failure to put that knowledge into practice.
Short Trips: The Greatest Risk
The survey indicates that the most common reason children travel without correct protection is the "short trip." Many parents report that this occurs during quick errands or situations where the perceived risk feels low.
However, an accident does not take the length of the journey into account. Even at low speeds, the consequences can be severe if a child is not correctly restrained.
The Gap Between Knowledge and Behavior
While most parents are well-aware of child safety recommendations, the results show that many deviate from them in daily life - often when things are stressful, spontaneous, or when the right equipment isn't immediately available.
"The best car seat is the one that is actually used - every single time, regardless of how short the journey is," says Malin Elinder, COO at TinySeats.
It is not just about knowing what is right; it is about creating the conditions to do the right thing every time.
New Research: Rear-Facing Saves Lives
A comprehensive analysis from Folksam, based on fatal accidents in Sweden between 1992 and 2024, underscores how critical proper protection is. The study estimates that:
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Up to 48% of children aged 0–3 could have survived if they had been traveling rear-facing.
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An additional 27% of children aged 4–6 could potentially have survived.
This means a significant portion of the most tragic outcomes could have been prevented with the correct type of protection.
Why Rear-Facing Makes Such a Difference
During a collision, a child’s body is subjected to immense forces. How these forces are absorbed is the deciding factor in the risk of injury.
In a rear-facing seat, the forces are distributed across the entire back, and the body is cradled within the seat’s protective shell. In a forward-facing seat, the load falls heavily on the neck and head - significantly increasing the risk of life-altering injuries. This is why safety authorities and experts recommend that children remain rear-facing for as long as possible, at least until age 4–5, but ideally longer.
Safety Declines as Children Get Older
Both Svedea and Folksam point to a similar pattern:
👉 The older the child becomes, the more often safety recommendations are ignored.
This often happens because:
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The child is perceived as "big enough" to ride forward-facing or without a belt.
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It becomes logistically inconvenient.
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Peer influence or social norms lean toward earlier "graduation" to forward-facing seats.
However, the need for specialized protection remains until the child has reached a height of at least 135–140 cm.
Conclusion: Safety is Decided in Everyday Life
The collective message from Svedea and Folksam is clear:
👉 Knowledge is not enough.
👉 Behavior is what matters.
To increase safety, it must be easy to do the right thing—even for short trips, spontaneous situations, and when the child is traveling with others.
"Rear-facing travel is vital for safety, but it’s not enough to know what is right—it must also be easy to act on that knowledge in everyday life," concludes Malin Elinder.