TABLE OF CONTENTS

TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMETATION PAGE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

1.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK

2.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1 WORKSHOP TO IDENTIFY CRS MISUSE MEASURES (BASED ON INJURY SEVERITY)

2.2 CRITERIA FOR SITE SELECTION

2.3 STATE AND GEOGRAPHIC REGION SITE SELECTION

2.4 TRAIN-THE-TRAINER WORKSHOP

2.5 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS

2.6 INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD

2.7 FIELD PERSONNEL

2.8 TRAINING

2.9 DATA COLLECTION

2.10 SITE CHARACTERISTICS

2.11 DATA ANALYSIS

3.0 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

3.1 SAMPLE SIZE CHARACTERISTICS

3.2 VEHICLE SEATING POSITION OF CHILDREN

3.3 CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) USE

3.4 CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) MISUSE

3.5 HARNESS RETAINER CLIP MISUSE

3.6 OTHER CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) MISUSE TYPES AND LATCH USE

3.7 SAFETY BELT (SB) ONLY USE BY CHILDREN

3.8 UNRESTRAINED CHILDREN

3.9 DRIVER CHARACTERISTICS

3.10 AIR BAG SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

4.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 SUMMARY

4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0 REFERENCES


APPENDICES

A “CRS Correct Use Definitions” Guidesheet (for Observers)

B Greeter Form

C Observation Form

D Socio-Economic Characteristics of State Sites (County-Level)


LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Child restraint laws of States in the study (as of September 2002)

Table 2 Safety belt laws of States in the study (as of September 2002)

Table 3 Number of sampled vehicles and children (State and total)

Table 4 Number of sampled children, by weight (State and total)

Table 5 Number of sampled children, by age (State and total)

Table 6 Number of sampled children by type of restraint used (State and total)

Table 7 Type of restraint used by weight

Table 8 Comparison of current and past NHTSA CRS misuse observation studies.
(Children less than 60 lb only data)

Table 9 Type of restraint used by age

Table 10 Type of child restraint used by weight

Table 11 Type of child restraint used by age

Table 12 Percentage of CRSs exhibiting critical misuses, by CRS type

Table 13 Critical misuses of infant seats

Table 14 Critical misuses of rear-facing convertible seats

Table 15 Critical misuses of forward-facing convertible seats

Table 16 Critical misuses of forward-facing only seats

Table 17 Critical misuses of belt-positioning booster seats

Table 18 Critical misuses of shield boosters.

Table 19 Critical misuses of forward-facing integrated seats

Table 20 Harness retainer clip misuse by CRS type

Table of Contents