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Car crashes are a major cause of death and serious injury to children but most analyses of risk are based on US data. The Australian context is different in at least three ways: (1) the proportion of passenger-side airbags, a potential risk to children in front seats, is much lower; (2) unlike in the US, Australian airbags are designed to work with restrained passengers; (3) restraint use for children 0-12 years is high (>90%). Official data drawn from Victorian crash records (n=30,631) were used to calculate relative risks of death or serious injury for children (0-3 years, 4-7 years; 8-12 years) traveling in passenger cars during 1993-1998 and 1999-2004. Over 90% were reportedly wearing a restraint, and 20% were traveling in the front seat. For children under 4 years traveling in the front seat, the relative risk of death was twice as great as when traveling in the rear, and that of serious injury was 60% greater. The relative risk of death whilst traveling in the front seat was almost four times greater for children aged under 1 year. We suggest that serious consideration should be given to mandating rear seating for children, particularly those aged 4 and under.

The present study reports on a group of 132 recidivist offenders' stages of change and self-efficacy levels for changing and controlling both their drinking and drink driving behaviours. The majority of the sample reported being motivated to change their drink driving, but not their drinking behaviours. The sample also indicated high self-efficacy levels for the two behaviours, although a notable finding was that participants reported higher levels of control over their drinking rather than drink driving behaviours. Examination of the self-reported frequency of drink driving revealed that both motivations and self-efficacy levels were predictors of past offences and future intentions to drink and drive. The findings have direct implications for the management of repeat offenders, such as the inclusion of rehabilitation and alcohol treatment programs in sentencing outcomes for individuals who appear resistant to change.