USE OF CHILD-PASSENGER SAFETY DEVICES IN TENNESSEE

The combined impact of a Tennessee law on child-passenger safety and a promotional campaign for child-restraint devices on the rates of use of such devices is evaluated, and characteristics of users and nonusers are compared. A basic statewide public information and education (PI&E) program called for distribution of brochures and posters through such facilities as pediatricians' offices and hospitals. The comprehensive PI&E program consisted of an extensive mass-media campaign in addition to the basic program. Six target areas, including the five major metropolitan areas of the state, were chosen for the evaluation. The major findings are that the combination of the law and the basic PI&E program is effective in increasing the rates at which child-restraint devices are used, and the comprehensive program ensures an even higher rate of use. Cross tabulations of such use with other variables reveal that use of child-restraint devices is associated with (a) the age of the child, (b) all socioeconomic variables such as family income and education level, (c) other demographic and vehicle data, and (d) the wearing of safety belts. A market segmentation strategy for future PI&E programs is proposed. (Authors)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1979/739/739-003.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=USE+OF+CHILD-PASSENGER+SAFETY+DEVICES+IN+TENNESSEE&author=J.+Philpot&author=K.+Heathington&author=R.+Perry&author=E.+HUGHES&publication_year=1979
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Vehicle User Characteristics. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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• Authors:
  • Philpot, J W
  • Heathington, K W
  • Perry, R L
  • HUGHES, E C
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 8-14
• Monograph Title: DRIVER PERFORMANCE, PASSENGER SAFETY DEVICES, AND THE BICYCLIST
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 739
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Child restraint systems; Evaluation; Laws; Mass media; Safety equipment; Socioeconomic factors; Utilization
• Geographic Terms: Tennessee
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Law; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00315352
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309029953
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 541
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 16 1984 12:00AM