On Average, Two Children are Involved Daily in Car Accidents on Georgian Roads

In May 2013 foundation "Partnership for Road Safety" carried out a research in respect with road safety for children. The research was implemented in three towns of Georgia: Tbilisi, Batumi and Telavi. The research aimed at study of Georgia’s current problems in regard with road safety of children under 12 years of age, analyzing negative aspects of using front seat of the car for children and experience of other countries.  It has been revealed that 59.6% of children in Georgia are seated on front seats of a car and 15% among them do not use the seatbelt. At that in regions more than 70% of children take front seats and bigger number of them do not use the seatbelt either. 96 countries of the world have adopted the law on children’s safety anticipating disallowance to use front seat for children and mandatory use of child car seats on a back seat of the car. These countries include 32% of world population or about 2.2 billion individual.

The beforementioned problem causes child fatality and injuries in cases of road accidents. 669 children were involved in road accidents on Georgian roads in 2012. The research allows us to give recommendations to the Parliament and other stakeholders on introduction and application of international practice in regard with disallowance of placing a child on the front seat and using special child car seats on the back seat of the car. Formulation of these questions has to be accomplished in the legislative framework. This achievement will change and improve the child safety situation greatly. It is required that the Law must clearly underline disallowance of placing a child under 12 years of age on the front seat including the exception. We believe it is important to introduce mandatory use of a child car seats on the back seat of the car (after certain period).

One of the reasons of child injuries in Georgia during road accidents is that Internationally recognized norms and rules are not followed when transporting children by means of auto transport. Neither is the law forbidding using the front seat for transportation of a child under 12 years of age is clear. Namely, Article 9 of Chapter 41 of the Law of Georgia on Safe Traffic articulates that "It is not allowed to transport a child under 12 years of age on the backseat of a motocycle and on the front seat of a car (if the automobile does not have a special holding device for a child)". It is not clear what is meant by the phrase "special holding device for a child". However in any case whether using a seat belt or a child car seat, transportation of children on the front seat endangers their health and life.

Georgia’s statistical information on road safety for children is rather disturbing. According to official data (supplied by the Ministry of Interior) 15 children died and 577 got injured in 2011. The number is increased according to the data of 2012 – 18 died and 651 got injured. Among these victims 6 deceased and 262 injured were pedestrians and rest 12 deceased and 389 injured were passengers.