Background NHTSA recommends that children who have outgrown child safety seats, are less than 8 years old, and are less than 4'9" tall should be in booster seats. When properly used, booster seats can help prevent injury to older children by making adult-sized safety belts fit more effectively. Without a belt-positioning booster seat, the lap belt can ride up over the child's stomach and cause serious internal injuries in a crash, and the shoulder belt can cross the face, causing the child to slide out from underneath it causing serious injury to the head, face and neck.

ObjectiveEstimate the effectiveness of booster seats in reducing fatality and injury risk to children. Compare the fatality and injury rates of children 4 to 7 years old in booster seats, safety belts, and no belts. Estimate the use of booster seats by children 4 to 7 years old.

Proposed Approach Statistical analysis of FARS and NASS data, by methods similar to those used in the 1986 evaluation of safety seats, to assess the relative fatality and injury risk to children aged 4 to 7 years in booster seats, safety belts, and unrestrained. A survey of the restraint use by children will be conducted at fast-food restaurants, shopping center parking lots similar to the approach used in past surveys at "Hardee's" on the misuse of child safety seats. Other sources of booster seat usage will also be explored.

Status A contract to conduct the survey has been awarded. The survey will be conducted in the spring and early summer of 2005, followed by statistical analyses and the preparation of a report.