The use and efficacy of child restraint devices. The Tennessee experience, 1982 and 1983

M. D. Decker, M. J. Dewey, R. H. Hutcheson Jr and W. Schaffner

The Tennessee Child Passenger Protection Act, mandating the use of child restraint devices for children younger than 4 years, took effect in 1978. In the years 1978 through 1983, eighty-one children younger than 4 years died in Tennessee traffic accidents; only two were in child restraint devices. During this period, as child restraint device use rose from 8% to more than 30%, the number of deaths among children younger than 4 years declined more than 50%. Analysis of supplemental accident reports filed in investigations of motor vehicle accidents involving children younger than 4 years during 1982 and 1983 showed that child restraint devices are highly effective in preventing death and in preventing or reducing injury. Children not in child restraint devices were 11 times more likely to die in an accident than children in child restraint devices. Children traveling in the arms of an adult were exposed to a risk of injury or death comparable to that of children left entirely unrestrained.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Translational research in child and adolescent transportation safety.
Simons-Morton and Winston
Eval Health Prof 2006;29:33-64.
ABSTRACT  

Effects of Child Age and Body Size on Serious Injury From Passenger Air-Bag Presence in Motor Vehicle Crashes
Newgard and Lewis
Pediatrics 2005;115:1579-1585.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A maternity hospital-based infant car-restraint loan scheme: Public health and economic evaluation of an intervention for the reduction of road traffic injuries
Kedikoglou et al.
Scand J Public Health 2005;33:42-49.
ABSTRACT  

Are seat belt restraints as effective in school age children as in adults? A prospective crash study
Halman et al.
BMJ 2002;324:1123-1123.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pediatric Restraint Use in Motor Vehicle Collisions: Reduction of Deaths Without Contribution to Injury
Tyroch et al.
Arch Surg 2000;135:1173-1176.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Sociodemographic Factors Identify US Infants at High Risk of Injury Mortality
Scholer et al.
Pediatrics 1999;103:1183-1188.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Predictors of Injury Mortality in Early Childhood
Scholer et al.
Pediatrics 1997;100:342-347.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Health Education and Injury Control: Integrating Approaches
Gielen
Health Educ Behav 1992;19:203-218.
ABSTRACT