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Evaluation of pediatric use patterns and performance of lap shoulder belt systems in the center rear
Kristy B Arbogast1, Dennis R Durbin, Michael J Kallan
1The Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Insights
Adding lap and shoulder belts to the center rear seat significantly reduces child injury risk by 81% compared to lap-only belts. This is especially beneficial for single child occupants, particularly those aged 4-8.
Area of Science:
- Traffic safety research
- Pediatric injury prevention
- Automotive engineering
Background:
- Rear outboard lap and shoulder belts have been standard since 1989.
- A congressional mandate promoted the inclusion of center rear seat lap and shoulder belts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze seating patterns of children in vehicles with and without center rear lap and shoulder belts.
- To quantify the safety benefits of center rear lap and shoulder belts for child passengers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Partners for Child Passenger Safety study, a child-focused crash surveillance system.
- Compared injury risks for children in center rear seats with lap and shoulder belts versus lap-only belts.
Main Results:
- Center rear shoulder belts influence seating patterns only when a single child is present.
- Belted children in center rear seats with lap and shoulder belts showed an 81% reduction in injury risk compared to those with lap-only belts.
- The 4-8 year old age group showed particular benefit.
Conclusions:
- Requiring lap and shoulder belts in center rear seating positions would enhance safety for belted children.
- Mandating center rear lap and shoulder belts is recommended to reduce pediatric injuries in vehicles.
Abstract:
Lap and shoulder belts have been required in rear outboard positions since 1989. A recent congressional mandate encouraged the requirement of a lap and shoulder belt in the center rear seat position. This study utilized Data from the Partners for Child Passenger Safety study, a large-scale child-focused crash surveillance system, to quantify changes in seating patterns for children in vehicles that already have this feature compared to those which do not and measured the safety benefit associated with the provision of a shoulder belt in the center rear seat position. The data demonstrate that the presence of a shoulder belt in the center rear seating position influences seating practices only when there is a single child occupant in the vehicle. Belted children in the center rear of vehicles equipped with a lap shoulder belt are at an 81% reduction in risk of injury than those belted in the center rear equipped with a lap only belt. The data suggest that by requiring lap shoulder belts in the center rear, benefits would be realized to belted children, specifically the 4-8 year old group.
