Well fitted car seats improve car safety for parents and children

More than half of 2,000 parents surveyed consider travelling with a screaming child is more dangerous than driving while using a mobile phone.

The report, produced for Halfords, emphasised the need to restrain children with correctly fitted car seats or belts.

This measure can reduce risks for both the child and the driver.

Parents regularly experience difficulties carrying children in cars, with nearly two-thirds of respondents saying they had fought with their misbehaving children while behind the wheel and another 43% claiming to have had toys thrown at them.

FURTHER REPORT FINDINGS 55% of parents allow their children to travel without restraint in other people's cars 82% of parents don't fit child car seats correctly 25% of parents have fastened a seat belt around themselves and their child, an action which could crush the child in the event of a collision

The report also reveals many parents, particularly mothers, are concerned about their ability to drive safely in a new area or with poor road conditions.

Around 40 children under 11 are killed every year while travelling in cars.

A further 500 are seriously injured and 9,000 suffer more minor injury.

Research suggests that 90% of child fatalities could be avoided through the use of appropriate, correctly-fitted safety restraints.

"It is regularly publicised but sadly parents are still unsure of what they need to do," a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents spokesman said.

"Seats will often look as though they are fitted properly, but when an expert looks they will find fault," he said.

Despite the advantages of using a properly fitted car seat or seat belt, UK legislation currently requires the use of such restraints only "if available".