KIDSAFE today backed the Victorian Government's call for motorists to slow down, saying babies and small children often become the victims of dangerous driving, ending up dead or seriously injured for the rest of their life.

Dr. Mark Stokes President of Kidsafe said with the holiday season coming up and people travelling in family groups long distances, we are asking all drivers to think about their children and drive responsibly at lower speeds.

"We are also concerned where young drivers can take on the role of driving around younger members of the family or friends."

Dr. Stokes said, "despite all of the community awareness campaigns the government and TAC have taken over the years, it is the drivers of the vehicles that have the ultimate responsibility."

Kidsafe's message to every driver is to slow down and recognize by just lowering your speed you will be increasing the safety of the baby or children you have in your car and possibly saving them from death or serious injury.

Dr Stokes said Kidsafe is also concerned that people have appropriate child restraints fitted in their car properly.

1. * Each year in Victoria, children travelling in cars are needlessly killed or injured because they are unrestrained or not restrained correctly.
2. RACV research shows that about 70% of child restraints are not installed correctly. A child restraint that has not been fitted properly can result in serious injury or even the death of a child in a crash.
3. Child restraints need to be used when travelling at low speed or short distances because most crashes happen within 10 km of home.
4. Even if your child is in the back seat, they are not safe unless they are restrained.
   * Source VicRoads