What is the purpose of the safety seat laws for young children?

The purpose of safety seat laws for young children is primarily to reduce the risk of injury in motor vehicle accidents. These laws mandate the use of appropriate child safety seats that are designed to protect young passengers during a collision. Given that young children are particularly vulnerable due to their size and developmental stage, the proper use of safety seats significantly decreases the likelihood of severe injuries or fatalities in the event of a crash. The design of these safety seats takes into account the specific needs of children, including support for their head, neck, and spine, which are not adequately provided by standard seat belts alone.

Regarding the other options, ensuring children are always supervised in vehicles, limiting the number of children in vehicles, and promoting fast travel in cars are not the primary goals of safety seat laws. While supervision is important for children's safety and there are guidelines about the number of passengers in vehicles, these elements do not directly relate to the purpose of safety seat laws, which focuses on injury prevention during crashes.