The Partners for Child Passenger Safety Study (PCPS) released data from its surveys of 6 to 8 year olds in New York and Pennsylvania, showing that “less than 1 percent” are properly restrained as passengers in automobiles.
The study, which was conducted under the Child Passenger Protection Act of 2001, analyzed crash data from State Farm. It found that “children restrained in seat belts rather than a car seat or booster seat are 3.5 times more likely to suffer a serious injury. More than 90 percent of 4-to-8-year old children who are seriously injured are not restrained in a booster seat.”
The study in both states was coordinated by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and State Farm. Principle investigator Flaura Winston, M.D. stated that as a pediatrician she was concerned about “the direct correlation between inappropriate restraint and injuries sustained by children.”
“Once a child’s car seat is completely outgrown, based on manufacturer’s recommendation, the child should graduate to a belt-positioning booster seat,” said the report. “The booster seat raises the child so that the adult lap/shoulder belt fits the child properly. The child should remain in the booster seat until she is big enough so that an adult seat belt fits properly without the booster seat, usually around 4’9″ and 80 pounds.”
Similar studies are being conducted in other states in order to determine “how and why children are killed in car crashes.” The data provided by State Farm covers more than 250,000 children under the age of 16 who’ve been involved in accidents in 1990 model year or newer vehicles.
Topics New York Pennsylvania
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