NHTSA conducted a survey from April to October 2005 to collect information about the types of restraint systems that were being used to keep children safe while riding in passenger vehicles. In particular, NHTSA was interested in whether drivers with Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)-equipped vehicles were using LATCH to secure their child safety seats to the vehicle, and if so, were these seats properly installed. The make/model and the type of restraint installed in each seating position were recorded for each of the vehicles; demographic characteristics and the type of restraint system were collected for each occupant. In addition, information was gathered about the drivers’ knowledge of booster seats and LATCH, along with their opinions on how easy it was to use LATCH. A key finding of the survey was that 55 percent of child safety seats, located in a seating position equipped with an upper anchor, were attached to the vehicle using an upper tether. Other findings include: (1) In 13 percent of the observations, the child safety seat was placed in a seat position in the vehicle not equipped with lower anchors - the seat belt was used to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle. (2) Among the 87 percent who do place the child safety seat at a position equipped with lower anchors, 60 percent use the lower attachments to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle. (3) 81 percent of upper tether users and 74 percent of lower attachments users said upper tether and/or lower attachments were easy to use. (4) 75 percent preferred lower attachments over seat belts of those with experience using both lower attachments and seat belts. (5) 61 percent of upper tether nonusers and 55 percent of lower attachments nonusers cited their lack of knowledge – not knowing what they were, that they were available in the vehicle, the importance of using them, or how to properly use them - as the reason for not using them. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting