Estimates derived from the Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) indicate that restraints are very effective in preventing infant (under one year old) and toddler (one through four:​ years old) fatalities. It is estimated that fatality reductions from restraint use between 1982 and 1987 were:​

• 69 percent for infants in child safety seats,
• 47 percent for toddlers in child safety seats, and
• 36 percent for toddlers in adult belts.

Because many restraints are incorrectly or incompletely used (as reported from detailed observation surveys), potential effectiveness is probably higher than the estimates provided here.

As child restraint use has increased, the annual number of lives saved has also increased. Based on the methods described here, child safety seats and adult belts used by infant and toddler passenger vehicle occupants saved an estimated:​

• 75 lives in 1982,
• 105 lives in 1983,
• 126 lives in 1984,
• 153 lives in 1985,
• 166 lives in 1986, and
• 213 lives in 1987.

Child restraints could save many more lives, but use is still low in serious accidents.