Police and other groups will be keeping a close eye on motorists' use of child restraints at a series of checkpoints around Dunedin over the next two weeks.
The campaign would begin tomorrow and was the work of the Dunedin SafeKids coalition, comprising representatives from police and other emergency services, the Dunedin City Council, the Plunket Society and other groups.
Plunket Otago and Southland area manager Barb Long said the checks aimed to educate motorists about the proper use of restraints, and the legal requirement to use them.
As many as four out of five children under 5 were not properly restrained, figures showed, and similar operations had found a mixture of ignorance and incorrect use of restraints was to blame, she said.
Operations in North Island centres had even found some parents transporting their children in car boots, because of a lack of space in their vehicles, she said.
With winter approaching the number of nose-to-tail accidents would increase, and the forces involved "can be enough . . . to significantly harm a child", she said.
Studies showed the correct use of child safety seats could reduce the risk of death by 70% for infants, and by 47-54% for toddlers, and dramatically cut the need for hospitalisation after an accident by more than 50%, a SafeKids statement said.
Between 2000 and 2004, 81 children around New Zealand died in motor vehicle crashes, with pre-schoolers accounting for 38% of fatalities.
It was the first time in at least six years such a "targeted" operation had been organised in Dunedin, Ms Long said.
Motorists found not to be using child restraints correctly would be issued with compliance notices giving them one week to buy or hire one.
Ms Long said those unable to afford to buy an appropriate restraint could consider renting one through Plunket.
