title: Correct and incorrect use of child restraints: results from an urban survey in New Zealand.
abstract: This study describes the incorrect use of child restraints among car drivers with young children and examines factors that may influence their misuse. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in supermarket car parks with car drivers travelling with children under the age of 8 years. The main measure was errors in child restraint use. Short interviews were conducted with 1113 drivers with a close inspection of the child restraints used in the vehicles. Only 4% of children were unrestrained but 64% of drivers made at least one error in restraint use. Most respondents thought using a restraint was easy, but 65% of these drivers made at least one error. Child restraints are used, but many are incorrectly fitted and/or have the child incorrectly placed in them. Correct use is a moderately complex task. Restraint systems need to be designed to minimize the opportunity for error and maximize safety.
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Unit, University of Otago, P O Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. jean.simpson@ipru.otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: S C R
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Davie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population