In 1994, nearly 87,000 children under the age of five were injured or killed in traffic crashes across the nation, with 2,336 of these injuries and fatalities occurring in Michigan. The use of child restraint devices (CRDs, also called child safety seats) has been identified as an effective means of reducing trauma incurred by young vehicle occupants involved in crashes. The primary purpose of the project reported here was to determine accurately a statewide CRD use-rate through a direct observation survey of children at pediatric medical and day care centers. However, determining the frequency of CRD use may not capture the entire traffic safety picture for children. Studies done in other states have found that among those who use CRDs, misuse of the devices is high. Determining misuse among those using CRDs was a secondary purpose of the project. Misuse data was collected at day care centers across Michigan through driver interviews and CRD visual inspections. The study showed that an estimated 74.5% of children under four years of age in Michigan are in a CRD when traveling in a motor vehicle. CRD use rates were highest in vehicles driven by belted drivers, females, and drivers under the age of 60 years. The misuse portion of the study, while only a pilot study, discovered at least some degree of improper use in 88.5% of inspections. The most common types of misuse discovered were related to snugness of fit (both installing the CRD tightly in the vehicle and securing the child in the CRD) and the use of clips (i.e., the safety belt locking clip and the CRD harness positioning clip). Drivers who had a high occurrence of misuse, as compared with drivers with low misuse, had younger children, lower educational levels, and were employed full or part time. Finally, most drivers had accurate, detailed knowledge of Michigan's mandatory CRD use law. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting