[Evaluation of campaign promoting restraint systems for children in automobiles]

Car collisions are a major cause of death in young children. Many of these deaths could be avoided by using child restraint systems. In May 1990, an illustrated leaflet, describing the utility for a child to be seated on the backseat and belted, was distributed to all children in the primary schools of the Rhône department. To assess the impact of this program "Ceint et sauf" (belted and safe), questionnaires were filled by teachers, once before, and twice after leaflets were distributed. These questionnaires allowed to estimate, in each classroom, the proportion of children who were seated and belted on the backseat during the last day of the preceding week. Answers to questionnaires were received from 673 out of the 5,249 classrooms of the Rhône department (12.8%). The sample was representative with regard to public-private sector, geographical area, and size of schools. Among those who were on the backseat, the proportion of children who were belted increased from 32 to 47%. The proportion of children correctly protected remained low: at the end of the program, only 39% of all children were on the backseat and belted. Despite a methodology unadequate for evaluation, this survey underlined the low level of protection of children in cars in France. Other actions, well evaluated, are needed to promote the use of child restraint systems in France.