Effectiveness of Child Safety Seats vs Seat Belts in Reducing Risk for Death in Children in Passenger Vehicle Crashes

This article reports on a cohort study undertaken to provide an estimate of benefit, if any, of child restraint systems over seat belts alone for children aged from 2 through 6 years. The authors used a sample of children in United States passenger vehicle crashes from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (1998 – 2003); the data set was established by combining cases involving a fatality from the United States Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System with a probability sample of cases without a fatality from the National Automotive Sampling System. The authors investigated the use of child restraint systems (rear-facing and forward-facing car seats, and shield and belt-positioning booster seats) versus seat belts. Other variables considered were seating position, vehicle type, model year, driver and passenger ages, and driver survival status. The results showed that, compared with seat belts, child restraints, when not seriously misused (e.g., unattached restraint, child restraint system harness not used, 2 children restrained with 1 seat belt) were associated with a 28% reduction in risk for death in children aged 2 through 6 years after adjusting for seating position, vehicle type, model year, driver and passenger ages, and driver survival status. When including cases of serious misuse, the effectiveness estimate was slightly lower. The authors conclude by encouraging continuing efforts to promote use of child restraint systems through improved laws and with education and disbursement programs (including free car seats or booster seats).

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10724710
• Authors:
  • Elliott, Michael R
  • Kallan, Michael J
  • Durbin, Dennis R
  • Winston, Flaura K
• Publication Date: 2006-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 617-621
• Serial:
  • Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
  • Volume: 160
  • Publisher: American Medical Association
  • ISSN: 1072-4710

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Booster seats; Child restraint systems; Children; Crash injuries; Epidemiology; Fatalities; Injury severity; Risk assessment; Seat belts
• Identifier Terms: Fatality Analysis Reporting System; National Automotive Sampling System; U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Morbidity
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I84: Personal Injuries; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01042711
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 1 2007 8:40AM