Seatbelt could have saved toddler

Konrad Truger. Photo / Supplied

A coroner's report into the crash death of 4-year-old Featherston boy Konrad Truger said he could have survived if the family dog not been sitting on the seatbelt that might have saved him.

Coroner Ian Smith said Konrad had been insufficiently restrained before he was thrown 30m from a car during a high-speed crash at Pirinoa in January, 2008.

His mother, Wendy May Connon, had been driving the car that also contained two dogs and her two other children, who were wearing seatbelts, according to Smith's findings.

Smith found one of the dogs had been sitting on a diagonal belt that "should have been available" for Konrad.

The boy died two days later from head injuries sustained in the crash, after his mother lost control of the vehicle on a sweeping bend while travelling up to 140km/h.

She and her two surviving children were also injured.

Wendy Connon, who, a court was told, was believed to have smoked cannabis before driving that day, was later found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to community service, disqualification from driving and supervision.

Checks on Wairarapa roads during a seatbelt campaign this month revealed some drivers were still carrying unrestrained child passengers, despite earlier warnings.

Kerry Hefferen, Wairarapa Road Safety Council and Plunket carseat safety co-ordinator, said police checks of around 100 vehicles over the past fortnight had led to 17 drivers being cited for incorrectly fitted restraints and 10 tickets issued to drivers carrying unrestrained passengers under 5 years old.

She said the checks were conducted at different roadside points and near playcentres in Masterton, Martinborough and Featherston and several cited drivers "I know we've spoken to before".

"Some of the drivers we've ticketed are highly educated and drive very expensive cars, so you can't say it's lack of money or sense." She said offending drivers also offered a gamut of excuses for the absence of adequate restraint and "that the law is grey around seatbelts and kids" generated confusion over their legal obligations.

Road safety campaigners yesterday launched a new bid to keep kids in booster seats until they are older.

They hope children will play a bigger part in looking after their own safety.