Are bicycle-towed trailers safer than mounted bicycle seats?
May 22, 2000 -- Fewer kids are injured in bicycle-towed trailers than in child-mounted bicycle seats, and their injuries are also less severe, according to a report in the April issue of the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
"But before the trailers can be recommended over child seats, more surveillance is needed," says study author Elizabeth Powell, MD, MPH, an emergency medicine specialist at Children's Memorial Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University School of Medicine, both in Chicago.
Powell reviewed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1990 to 1998. NEISS estimates national patterns of product-related injury, based on reports from emergency departments throughout the country.
NEISS estimates that there were 320 injuries associated with bicycle-towed trailers, vs. 2,000 injuries associated with child-mounted bicycle seats. Scrapes and bruises to the head and face were most common, accounting for 80% of trailer injuries and 45% of mounted seat injuries. Fractures and foot trauma accounted for another 40% of mounted seat injuries.
There was no significant difference between the safety of the devices when cars were involved in the accidents, but the authors urge caution in interpreting the data. "We had to search partly with keywords, because bicycle-towed trailers don't have a product code, so some injuries may not have been identified," notes Powell.
Other experts say that, for every injury, there are lots of lucky saves. "NEISS does a good job of estimating injuries, but it can't possibly project all the near misses," says Angela Mickalide, PhD, program director of the National Safe Kids Campaign and author of Cycle Smart.
Mickalide tells WebMD that the American Society of Testing Materials is developing guidelines for weight, width, and wheel size to further enhance the stability of bicycle-towed trailers. In the meantime, Cycle Smart offers several safety recommendations.
Bicycle-towed trailers are designed for and should only be used by children ages 1 through 4. Single-passenger units have a weight limit of 50 pounds to 70 pounds, and two-passenger models have a weight limit of 100 pounds. Children should always be buckled up and keep their hands and feet inside. Attachable flags should also be used to enhance visibility.
"But before the trailers can be recommended over child seats, more surveillance is needed," says study author Elizabeth Powell, MD, MPH, an emergency medicine specialist at Children's Memorial Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University School of Medicine, both in Chicago.
Powell reviewed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1990 to 1998. NEISS estimates national patterns of product-related injury, based on reports from emergency departments throughout the country.
NEISS estimates that there were 320 injuries associated with bicycle-towed trailers, vs. 2,000 injuries associated with child-mounted bicycle seats. Scrapes and bruises to the head and face were most common, accounting for 80% of trailer injuries and 45% of mounted seat injuries. Fractures and foot trauma accounted for another 40% of mounted seat injuries.
There was no significant difference between the safety of the devices when cars were involved in the accidents, but the authors urge caution in interpreting the data. "We had to search partly with keywords, because bicycle-towed trailers don't have a product code, so some injuries may not have been identified," notes Powell.
Other experts say that, for every injury, there are lots of lucky saves. "NEISS does a good job of estimating injuries, but it can't possibly project all the near misses," says Angela Mickalide, PhD, program director of the National Safe Kids Campaign and author of Cycle Smart.
Mickalide tells WebMD that the American Society of Testing Materials is developing guidelines for weight, width, and wheel size to further enhance the stability of bicycle-towed trailers. In the meantime, Cycle Smart offers several safety recommendations.
Bicycle-towed trailers are designed for and should only be used by children ages 1 through 4. Single-passenger units have a weight limit of 50 pounds to 70 pounds, and two-passenger models have a weight limit of 100 pounds. Children should always be buckled up and keep their hands and feet inside. Attachable flags should also be used to enhance visibility.