Analyses estimating the effectiveness of restraints are often conducted using the US Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of crashes in the United States in which at least 1 person died. 1 - 6Įstimating effectiveness of child restraint systems through analysis of crash databases is potentially problematic because of the association between how passengers are restrained in a given crash and whether that crash will be in the given database. However, previous estimates of real-world child restraint effectiveness have varied based on the analytical method chosen (most notably, the crash database chosen for analysis) and factors under study, including the outcome (nonfatal injury vs death) and the comparison group (children restrained with seat belts vs unrestrained children). When including cases of serious misuse, the effectiveness estimate was slightly lower (21%) (relative risk, 0.79 95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.05).Ĭonclusion Based on these findings as well as previous epidemiological and biomechanical evidence for child restraint system effectiveness in reducing nonfatal injury risk, efforts should continue to promote use of child restraint systems through improved laws and with education and disbursement programs.Ĭhild restraint policy, including the passage of state child restraint laws, relies on evaluation of the risks of nonuse of child restraint systems and the benefits of their use in protecting children in crashes, most notably in the form of effectiveness estimates.
The article the effectiveness of child restraint systems driver#
Results Compared with seat belts, child restraints, when not seriously misused (eg, 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 (relative risk, 0.72 95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.97) in children aged 2 through 6 years after adjusting for seating position, vehicle type, model year, driver and passenger ages, and driver survival status. Main Outcomes Measure Death of child passengers from injuries incurred during the crash.
Potentially confounding variables included seating position, vehicle type, model year, driver and passenger ages, and driver survival status. Main Exposure Use of child restraint systems (rear-facing and forward-facing car seats, and shield and belt-positioning booster seats) vs seat belts. Participants Children in two-way crashes occurring between 19. Setting A sample of children in US passenger vehicle crashes was obtained from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration by combining cases involving a fatality from the US Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System with a probability sample of cases without a fatality from the National Automotive Sampling System. Objective To provide an estimate of benefit, if any, of child restraint systems over seat belts alone for children aged from 2 through 6 years. Shared Decision Making and Communication.Scientific Discovery and the Future of Medicine.Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment.Clinical Implications of Basic Neuroscience.Challenges in Clinical Electrocardiography.On the basis of these analyses, parents, pediatricians, and health educators should continue to recommend as best practice the use of BPB seats once a child outgrows a harness-based child restraint until he or she is at least 8 years of age. The adjusted relative risk for injury to children in BPB seats compared with those in seat belts was 0.55.ĬONCLUSIONS: This study reconfirms previous reports that BPB seats reduce the risk for injury in children aged 4 through 8 years. RESULTS: Complete interview data were obtained on 7151 children in 6591 crashes representing an estimated 120646 children in 116503 crashes in the study population. Effects of crash direction and booster seat type were also explored. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds of injury for those in BPB seats versus those in seat belts. The study sample included children who were aged 4 to 8 years, seated in the rear rows of the vehicle, and restrained by either a seat belt or a BPB seat.
METHODS: Data were collected from a longitudinal study of children who were involved in crashes in 16 states and the District of Columbia from December 1, 1998, to November 30, 2007, with data collected via insurance claims records and a validated telephone survey. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide an updated estimate of the effectiveness of belt-positioning booster (BPB) seats compared with seat belts alone in reducing the risk for injury for children aged 4 to 8 years.