Ever been stuck in traffic next to a car with an unrestrained child inside? Did it make your blood boil?

You're not alone - thousands of parents seem to think that children are exempt from car safety while thousands more find the sight of an unrestrained child infuriating. The temptation to indulge in a little road rage can be overwhelming.

Hold your fire. A group of frustrated parents and commuters have taken action on the issue and launched the "Buckle Up Kids" campaign.

The campaign is supported by a website - www.buckleupkids.com - where commuters can vent their spleen, learn more about child car safety and download posters for use in schools and the community.

Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan is considering how many penalty points errant parents should receive for not using the right safety equipment for kids.

A recent study found that over three-quarters of child fatalities on Irish roads between 1996 and 2000 involved children who were not wearing a restraint.

The study by the Department of Paediatrics at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, found that 79 per cent of child "rear seat" fatalities and 73 per cent of child "front seat" fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt. Of the rear seat fatalities, 27 per cent were under the age of three.