Did you know that holding a child on your lap while riding in a car exposes the youngster to increased risk of injury or death in an accident? This is the word from the Inusrance Institute for Highway Safety as quoted in a recent news dispatch from Washington. Many parents, the institute reports, think they are protecting children by holding them in their laps while traveling in an auto. But a study conducted by Dr. Allen Williams of the institute indicates just the opposite. The findings have application here in Utah, possibly to an even greater extent than in some areas, because of the ratio of young children in this state. One Orem woman, in a letter to the Herald, noted that some parents even DRIVE the car while holding youngsters. “So many times,” she said, “l’ve seen parents driving with infants or young children on their laps. They appear to be ignorant of the consequences, or they just don’t care. Either way they should be made aware of just what could happen.” Dr. Williams’ 1974 survey entitled, “Waring: In Cars Parents May Be Hazardous to Their Children’s Health,” indicatd that 44 percent of infants under 1 year old were carried in laps instead of special seats, while 26 percent of children between ages of 1 and 2 were on laps. He said children on laps cannot be adequately protected against crash forces by adult arms and they are placed in further danger by the possibility of being crushed by the persons holding them. In frontal crashes, he declared, both child and adult continue forward as the vehicle comes to sudden halt, causing the child to be crushed between the person holding him and the instrument panel, door or floor of the car. In nearly half the cases of infant injuries studied in car mishaps, Dr. Williams said, the child was hurt by contact with an adult. In one case, he said, a 14-month-old being held in a lap was killed when he was crushed between the adult holding him and the back of the seat ahead. A 9-year-old sitting next to the pair, and wearing a safety belt, was unhurt in the same accident. The findings of the survey could have meaning for all families with children. Dr. Williams urged both education for parents and the use of passive restraint systems in cars. His points seem well taken. Indian Keepers What most American Indian tribes can call their own today they came by the hard way – losing time after time to the white man until they ended up with territory which no one else wanted. Or so it appeared until the rush to develop new energy sources found many of today’s tribesmen camped atop vast mineral reserves. To make the most of their newfound wealth, 25 tribes are taking a tip from the Middle East and setting up an organization modeled on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The Council of Energy Resources Tribes, with initial federal assistance, is undertaking a comprehensive inventory of all tribal oil, coal, natural gas and other energy possessions. First with outside technical assistance and eventually with their own trained people, the tribes will maintain tight control over exploitation of the resources, negotiating advantageous leases with oil and coal enterprises. The goal is not only to enrich tribal treasuries, but to make certain that this time they hold on to what they have. She’s u Hurd Sell What’s new with women drivers? There are more of them – at least more women car owners. The number of women who buy and own cars in their own names has been climbing at the rate of about 5 percent annually and currently accounts for about 13 percent of total car sales – 1.5 million out of 11.2 million in IQ77. The good news for the auto ine dustry is that more women holding better jobs is boosting car sales. The not – so – good news is t.hat they tend to be a tougher sale than men – more set in their ways and less easily persuaded.