| Title | Strategies to Increase the Use of Child Safety Seats: An Assessment of Current Knowledge |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 26741 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Kernish, Robert; London, Lizabeth |
| Source | v, 47 p. |
| Corporate Creator | National Analysts (Firm) |
| Corporate Contributor |
United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Driver and Pedestrian Research |
| Publisher | United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Publication Date | 19861200 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | This analytic literature research reports on characteristics of child-safety-seat (CSS) users and nonusers, and on the efficacy of approaches to increasing CSS use. It concentrates on human factors issues in CSS use, excluding technical studies on design and efficacy, and broader studies of restraint use. Demographic findings from the literature include an inverse relationship between age of the child and seat use, and some evidence that minority ethnic groups, older drivers and the unmarried are less likely to use CSSs; evidence on the effect of driver gender is mixed. CSS use appears to be motivated primarily by beief in its protective capabilities, compliance with mandatory use laws and a need to physically restrain the child's activities within the vehicle. CSS nonuse is motivated by cost (with some evidence that this is a rationalization for some), inconvenience of installation and use, and anticipated and actual negative child reactions (which may be linked to deficiencies in seat design). Some parental skepticism about the real and perceived value of CSS has been found, along with considerable confusion about the correct time to transition into safety belts. Parental safety belt use (but not prior accident experience) has also been linked to CSS use. Although numerous programs have increased CSS use, the relative impacts of specific programs are difficult to assess. Evidence is mixed on the effectiveness of educational programs, while showing loaner programs to be at least moderately effective and positive incentives to have worked. Little research is available on the effectiveness of CSS law enforcement. Positive promotional messages appear more effective than messages which raise anxieties. Major gaps inclde relative impacts on various information sources, child management strageties of CSS users, transition from infant to toddler seats to boosters or safety belts, role of seat design in nonuse, the independent effect of ethnicity (if any), the extent to which nonacquisition is a conscious decision, the nature of the linkage between parental safety belt and CSS use, the most effective timing of CSS education and the most effective promotional messages. Specific target segments for future research are suggested, including infant and toddler seat users and nonusers, trier-rejectors, middle-class minority nonusers, those exposed to loaner programs and those cited for CSS violations. /Abstract from report summary page/ |
| Rosap ID | dot:1817 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1817 |
| TRT Terms | Child restraint systems; Parents; Attitudes; Guides to the literature; Literature reviews |
| Classification | NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors; NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - SAFETY AND SECURITY |
| Geographical Coverage |
United States |
| TRIS Online Accession No |
00475394 |
| Contract Number | DTNH22-82-A-07197, Task 4 |
| Report Number | DOT-HS-807-116; 09073-131-001; NTIS-PB87217311 |
| Availability | NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research |
| Resource type | Research Paper |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/26000/26700/26741/DOT_HS_807_116.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |