Predicting vehicle belt fit for children ages 6–12

Self Cite

Belt positioning boosters reduce injury risk for child occupants compared with seat belts alone. While boosters shorten the effective seat length (and thus reduce slouching), “boosting” the child relative to the vehicle interior components also achieves additional safety benefits. First, the increase of the lap belt angle usually improves belt fit across the pelvis and reduces the risk of the occupant slipping (“submarining”) under the belt. Second, the torso belt is re-centered over the bony landmarks of the shoulder for more effective/secure restraint. Third, the child’s head is relocated in a range better protected by side airbags. The objective of this research was to quantify differences in posture and belt fit across a range of booster designs that provide different levels of boosting. Posture and belt fit were measured in 25 child volunteers aged four to 12. Children were measured in three laboratory seating conditions selected to provide a range of cushion lengths and belt geometries. Six different boosters, as well as a no-booster condition, were evaluated. The low height boosters produced postures that were more slouched, with the hips further forward than in other more typical boosters. Lap belt fit in the low height boosters was not meaningfully different from the other boosters. Shoulder belt fit produced by the lowest height booster was similar to the no-booster condition. Belt positioning boosters that boost the child less than 70 mm produced postures similar to the no-booster condition. While lap belt guides on these products can produce a similar static lap belt fit, they may not provide adequate dynamic performance and do not achieve the other benefits that come with raising the child to a more advantageous location relative to interior components and belts.

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

Section: Mockup Test Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Child Posture and Belt Fit in a Range of Booster Configurations

Jones

Ebert

Manary

et al. 2020

Self Cite

“…After children grow out of harness systems, booster seats help to adequately restrain children in the years they are not yet ready for the seat belts outfitted in vehicles. For example, without a booster seat, the rear seats of most vehicles are unlikely to provide good lap belt fit for up to 75% of children ages 6–12, and the shoulder belt fit is outside the target range for 40% of children [6]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Situational Use of Child Restraint Systems and Carpooling Behaviors in Parents and Caregivers

McDonald

Kennedy

Fleisher

et al. 2018

Suboptimal compliance with child restraint system (CRS) recommendations can increase risk for injury or death in a motor vehicle crash. The purpose of this study was to examine scenarios associated with incomplete CRS use and non-use in children ages 4–10 years. We used a cross-sectional online survey with a convenience sample of parent/caregivers from the United States, age ≥18 years, with a child age 4–10 years in their home, who could read and spoke English, and drove child ≥6 times in previous three months. We used descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U to describe and compare the distribution of responses to situational use of CRSs among car seat users and booster seat users. We also used descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U to describe and compare the distribution of responses to carpooling items among booster seat users and non-booster seat users. There were significant differences among those who reported most often using booster seats (n = 282) and car seats (n = 127) in situations involving rental cars, driving just around the corner, car too crowded to fit the CRS, not enough CRSs in the vehicle, the CRS is missing from the car, or the child is in someone else’s car without a CRS (p < 0.05). Among those who reported most often using booster seats and who carpooled other children (n = 159), 71.7% (n = 114) always used a booster seat for their own child. When carpooling other children, booster seat users were significantly more likely to use booster seats for other children ages 4–10 than the non-booster seat users (p < 0.01). Continued education and programs surrounding CRS use is critical, particularly for children who should be in booster seats.

“…The need for a booster seat is largely dependent on the seat structure within vehicles. Geometrical analysis has suggested that most vehicles are unlikely to produce a good lap belt fit for 75% of children aged six to 12, and that children under the age of 12 are very likely to experience poor seatbelt fit after transitioning out of a booster seat [ 8 ]. Nevertheless, most existing legislation does not mandate booster seat use beyond eight years of age (for examples, see [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]).…”

Section: The Importance Of Booster Seats and Bicycle Helmetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in the Accurate Surveillance of Booster Seat and Bicycle Helmet Usage by Children: Lessons from the Field

Pankratz

Warda

Piotrowski

2016

Motor vehicle collisions and bicycle collisions and falls are a leading cause of death by preventable injury for children. In order to design, implement and evaluate campaigns and programs aimed at improving child safety, accurate surveillance is needed. This paper examined the challenges that confront efforts to collect surveillance data relevant to child traffic safety, including observation, interview, and focus group methods. Strategies to address key challenges in order to improve the efficiency and accuracy of surveillance methods were recommended. The potential for new technology to enhance existing surveillance methods was also explored.