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IIHS Research on Belt-Positioning Booster Seats
Lifesavers ConferenceOrlando, FL ● June 15, 2012
Angela H. Eichelberger, Ph.D.
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Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
• Nonprofit, independent research and communications organization
• IIHS mission to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce property damage in crashes
• Research goal to determine what works and what doesn’t to improve highway safety
• Funded by automobile insurance companies
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Outline
• IIHS boosterseat evaluations
• Effectiveness ofbooster seat laws
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Child passenger vehicle occupant deaths per million children By age,1975-2010
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IIHS booster seat evaluations
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• Booster seats can improve three-point belt fit
• Booster seats reduce injury among 4-8 year-olds by 45%, compared with belts alone
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Not all boosters achieve the objective
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Multiple belt anchorage locations to match real world
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Shoulder belt too close to neck
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Shoulder belt not on shoulder
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Lap belt too high on abdomen
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Lap belt too far forward on thighs
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Proper lap and shoulder belt fit
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Fourth round of IIHS booster seat evaluations October 13, 2011
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Booster seats are improving
0
10
20
30
40
Best Bets Good Bets Not recommended Check fit
2008 2009 2010 2011
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Example of a booster seat that has improved Harmony Secure Comfort Deluxe
• Previous design pushed lap belt too far forward on thighs
• Modified by moving lap belt guide rearward
• Changed lap belt score from not recommended to BEST BET
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Conclusions
• Many booster seats don’t consistently provide proper fit
• IIHS booster evaluations provide information on belt fit for typical 4- to 8-year olds in most vehicles
• Always make sure that the lap and shoulder belts fit properly– The lap belt should fit flat across a child's upper thighs, not the soft
abdomen
– The shoulder belt should cross snugly over the middle of a child's shoulder
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Effectiveness of booster seat laws
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Percentage of children 4-8 reported as using child safety seats Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey, 2000-07
0
20
40
60
80
100
2000 2003 2007
forward-facing with harness
highback or backless booster
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Enactment of booster seat laws in the U.S.
effective year cumulative
number of states
2001 5
2002 10
2003 18
2004 26 2005 34 2006 38
2007 39
2008 43
2009 47
2010 47
2011 47
2012 to date 48
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Child restraint or booster seat laws in the U.S. June 2012
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Booster seat laws improve use Prior research
• Children 4-7 were 39 percent more likely to use boosters or child restraints in states with booster seat laws than in states without laws
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Study objectives
• To examine changes in the per capita rates of – Restraint use of children in crashes
– Rear seat use of children in crashes
– Children injured in crashes
• Focus on states with amended laws covering children through at least age 7
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Methods
• Before-after design with comparison group (ages 9-12)
• States with at least 2 years of data available before and after law change
• Data from police crash reports
• Injury severity, restraint use, and seating position for child occupants in crashes
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Study states Age groups required to use child restraints or booster seats
state prior law new law affected
by law change
Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
3 and younger
7 and younger 4-7
North Carolina 4 and younger
7 and younger 5-7
Wyoming 4 and younger
8 and younger 5-8
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Percent of restraint use among children in crashes before and after law changes Five study states combined
73
42
87 86
17
50
1 2
0
20
40
60
80
100
before law after law before law after law
children ages 4-8 targeted by law upgrades
comparison group of children ages 9-12
seat belt only child safety seat (harness or booster)
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Percent of front- and rear-seating among children in crashes before and after lawsFive study states combined
7888
60 63
1810
36 33
0
20
40
60
80
100
before law after law before law after law
children ages 4-8 targeted by law upgrades
comparison group of children ages 9-12
rear seat front seat
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Percent increase in per capita rates of child seat use and rear seating among booster-age children Adjusted for changes in use among children ages 9-12
child safety seat use 191
rear seating 6
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Percent reduction in per capita rate of injured booster-age children after law changes
-5
-17
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
all injuries fatal and incapacitating injuries
Adjusted for changes injury rates among children ages 9-12
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Conclusions
• Amendments to existing child restraint laws adding a booster seat requirement appear to be effective in the United States
• Among children covered by laws – Use of child safety seats increased
– Placement of children in rear seats increased
– Injuries were reduced, particularly serious injuries
• Results can be used to advocate for stronger restraint laws
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For further information www.iihs.org
• Booster seat ratings
• Fatality Facts
• Q&As
• State laws
• Consumer brochures and videos
www.iihs.orgDedicated to reducing deaths, injuries,and property damage on the highway
