Previous research has demonstrated that booster seats reduce the risk of injury to children age 4-7 years old by 59% compared to similar age children in adult seat belts by improving restraint geometry for children too small for the vehicle seat belt. (Durbin 2003) This prior analysis, conducted on data from 1998 to 2002, was based primarily on children age 4 and 5 years of age due to the usage practices during that time period. In the time since this research was published, appropriate restraint use among children 4 to 8 years of age has improved by 54% (PCPS 2006). As more children, particularly older children, are appropriately restrained in booster seats and more data become available, the performance of belt-positioning booster seats should be revisited. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting