The purpose of this project was to collect quantitative data and other information concerning the restraint use of children in passenger vehicles. In particular, the project was conducted to obtain information regarding whether LATCH technology (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) was being used in vehicles equipped with LATCH, and whether LATCH technology was being used correctly in the installation of child restraint systems (CRSs). The study also sought information about drivers’ knowledge of booster seats and their purposes, as well as drivers’ knowledge about the new LATCH technology for CRSs. In addition, if LATCH equipment was available in the vehicles, information about drivers’ likes and dislikes about LATCH technology was obtained, and whether there were preferences for using safety belts to secure the CRS to the vehicle over use of lower anchors. Additionally, the study sought to identify relationships between selected driver demographic characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity) and restraint use of children; as well as the relationship that variables such as the demographics of other occupants in the vehicle, vehicle type, occupant seating position, and restraint type available for the seating position had on restraint use. This Coding Manual provides information about data collected in 7 States from 1,182 vehicles that were transporting 1,728 children ages 12 and under. Data are organized into two sets–a Vehicle data set and an Occupant data set This Manual provides a description of the 126 variables in the Vehicle data set and the 91 variables in the Occupant data set to be used for statistical analysis purposes. A companion Final Report (DOT HS 810 679) for this project describes the research methodology used to collect the data. (Author/publisher)
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