Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note: Additional Analysis of National Child Restraint Use Special Study: Characteristics of Those Not Restrained

Raymond, Paula D.; Searcy, Sarah; Findley, Daniel; Miller, S.; Redden, C. · 2018 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This research note presents an additional analysis of the 2011 National Child Restraint Use Special Study (NCRUSS), a nationally representative survey of 4,167 vehicles carrying children aged 8 or younger. The study aims to identify the demographic and behavioral characteristics of drivers and children who are unrestrained, as well as drivers who report a history of transporting unrestrained children. The data were collected by certified child passenger safety technicians who observed restraint use and interviewed drivers at various locations across 17 states. Statistical analyses utilized weighted percentages and design-adjusted Rao-Scott chi-square tests to account for the complex survey design. The findings reveal that while 96.0% of drivers were properly restrained, the 4.0% who were unrestrained were significantly more likely to be Black than White. Gender, age, and Hispanic background did not significantly predict driver restraint status. Regarding historical behavior, 15.4% of drivers reported having ever driven with unrestrained children. The primary reason cited was that the trip was "short" (51.0%), followed by the absence of a seat or booster in the vehicle (18.9%). Drivers who had driven with unrestrained children were significantly more likely to be Hispanic or Black compared to non-Hispanic or White drivers, respectively. Age and gender were not significant factors in this historical behavior. Among the children sampled, 2.1% were observed to be unrestrained. These children were significantly more likely to be Hispanic or Black than their non-Hispanic or White counterparts. Older children (ages 4–8) were more likely to be unrestrained than younger children. Unrestrained children were also more likely to occupy the front seat of the vehicle, ride with an unrestrained driver, and travel in vehicles with four or more occupants. Drivers of unrestrained children were less likely to use information sources regarding child safety seats. The study concludes that outreach efforts should target the misperception that short trips pose low risk and focus on demographic groups with higher rates of non-restraint, particularly Black and Hispanic populations, to improve child passenger safety.

Key finding

Black drivers were significantly more likely to be unrestrained than White drivers, and unrestrained children were more likely to ride in the front seat and with unrestrained drivers.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 4167

Provenance

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Topics

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• child passenger safety
• seat belt use
• demographic disparities

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence