Local Police Enforcement, Public Information and Education Strategies to Foster More and Proper Use of Child Safety Seats by Toddlers: Evaluation of a Demonstration Project

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15253401994PDFResearch PaperDecina, L. E. (Larry E.)Temple, Michael G.Dorer, Heidi S.Bionetics Corporation. Ketron DivisionUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Program Development and EvaluationUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesChild restraint systemsLegislationTraffic law enforcementPublic information programsSafety educationImpact studiesDOT-HS-808-120NTIS-PB94193919DTNH22-89-C-07029Gurin, Douglas B.Final reportThis project evaluated the effects of enforcing safety belt (SB)/child safety seat (CSS) laws and providing public information and education (PI&E) about the laws and use and proper use of CSSs--without external funding. Project goals focused on increasing occupant restraint (OR) usage for all infants and young children, especially for toddlers, aged 1 to 5 years; extending the use of CSSs to the back seat; fostering proper use of CSSs for all trips; and increasing community-wide OR use. An administrative audit of the project was also performed. The project was implemented in two suburban communities of Philadelphia. A "do-nothing" town was chosen as a control. The project relied heavily on police as both enforcers and educators on use/proper use of CSSs. The percentage of OR enforcement contacts (citations and written warnings) given out in the two test communities was 21% and 10% of the total moving (point) citations and 11% and 3% of the total citations during the intervention phase, respectively. The use and proper use of restraints on over 5,800 young children and over 4,500 drivers were observed. Drivers of these children were also interviewed. Results in the two test communities showed an increase in toddler CSS use from a baseline of 71.8% and 60.9% to 78.8% and 71.4%, respectively; and proper use from a baseline of 67% and 57.5% to 72.8% and 69.3%, respectively. Infant seat use remained very high at all three sites (over 90%) before and after intervention. No changes were noted in the control site. Community belt use increased by 9 and 6 percentage points in the two test sites and decreased by 3 percentage points in the control site. Results showed that routine police enforcement of SB and CSS laws combined with periodic "blitzes" and a comprehensive PI&E project can significantly improve SB and CSS use and increase proper use of CSSs. Effective OR enforcement projects require commitment, training, active enforcement (citations and written warnings), management monitoring, and comprehensive PI&E, with emphasis on enforcement activities. In addition, state and community support is needed to promote enforcement actions and education about proper CSS use. /Abstract from report summary page/129