EFFECTS OF A SEAT BELT LAW ON CHILD RESTRAINT USE

Automobile passenger fatalities account for almost 25% of all accidental deaths of children aged 1 to 14 years. Given that child automobile restraint devices provide effective protection against serious injury and death, several jurisdictions have adopted some form of child restraint law. In August 1976, Quebec enacted legislation requiring the use of seat belts by all front seat passengers weighing more than 23 kg. Although the law was chiefly aimed at adults, a series of observations extending throughout six years were performed to assess its impact on children. Prelaw rates showed 6.4% restraint use for children aged 0 to 11 years and 14.7% for drivers. In the year after legislation, rates for both drivers and children more than doubled and has increased to 55.5% and 24.5%, respectively, in 1981. The child's age and parent's use of a seat belt were important factors associated with restraint use among children.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Medical Association

  535 North Dearborn Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60610
• Authors:
  • Stulginskas, J V
  • PLESS, I B
• Publication Date: 1983-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 582-585
• Serial:
  • AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DISEASES OF CHILDREN
  • Volume: 137
  • Publisher: American Medical Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Child restraint systems; Laws; Manual safety belts; Parents; Utilization
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386507
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-036 137
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM