Faculty Collaboration Database

Booster seat legislation: does it work for all children? Inj Prev 2011 Aug;17(4):233-7

Date

02/08/2011

Pubmed ID

21296801

DOI

10.1136/ip.2010.029835

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79960834958 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a booster seat law in Wisconsin on booster seat use in relation to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

METHODS: A longitudinal study in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, involving repeated direct observational assessments of booster seat use rates by child passengers aged 4-7 years over five time periods, before and after legislation mandating booster seat use.

RESULTS: Overall, booster seat use increased from 24% to 43%, whereas proper restraint use increased pre to post-legislation from 21% to 28%. Proper use increased after legislation in white, but not in black or Latino children. White individuals had a proper booster use increase from 48% to 68% over the time period of the study. Black children's proper use dropped from 18% to 7% over the study period and Latino children's proper use rates were stable at 10%. Driver-reported household income had a significant impact on overall use, but not on proper use.

CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic minority groups and those of lower socioeconomic status have significantly lower use and proper use of booster seats. Legislation may increase the total use of booster seats but not necessarily the correct use of the restraint, particularly in racial/ethnic minorities.

Author List

Brixey SN, Corden TE, Guse CE, Layde PM

Author

Peter M. Layde MS, MD Emeritus Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Automobile Driving
Child
Child Restraint Systems
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Legislation as Topic
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Population Groups
Seat Belts
Social Class
Wisconsin