Traffic Tech: Observed Patterns of Misuse of Child Safety Seats

1996PDFBrief133Child restraint systemsChild safety seatsHuman factors in crashesField studiesUnited StatesUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human FactorsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-AccidentsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYUS Transportation CollectionThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored a study to observe more than 5,900 children in safety seats or wearing safety belts in suburban shopping centers in the spring and summer of 1995. The Ketron Division of the Bionetics Corporation conducted the study in Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Washington. They identified how CSSs were being misused, documented problems of CSS installation and vehicle occupant protection systems, and linked characteristics of the driver to misuse of child safety seats. Since the study was conducted in only four states, it is not representative of the whole nation.85