EFFECT OF CHILD OCCUPANT PROTECTION LAWS ON FATALITIES. TECHNICAL REPORT

In 1978, child safety seats and adult safety belts used by children under five years old saved 3% of those who would have been killed if no one had used the devices. By 1988, children's use of safety seats and belts had risen enough that 26% of those at risk were saved. During these eleven years, the number of states with child occupant protection laws increased from one (in 1978) to fifty (in 1985) plus the District of Columbia. The 1981 to 1984 fatality experience was used to estimate the incremental benefit to a state of having a child occupant protection law in any one year. During these four years, 19% of those who would have been killed (if no one used a safety seat or belt) in states with child occupant protection laws were saved by safety seats and belts. In contrast, only 10% were saved in states without laws. The difference between these two numbers (9%) is an estimate of the immediate benefit to a state of passing a child occupant protection law. However, because these laws contribute to the increasing use of safety seats and belts by young children, their cumulative and potential benefits are much greater.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Center for Statistics and Analysis

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • PARTYKA, S C
• Publication Date: 1989-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Child restraint systems; Fatalities; Laws; Measures of effectiveness; Reduction (Chemistry)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496494
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-807 453
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM