THE EFFECT OF ADULT BELT LAWS AND OTHER FACTORS ON RESTRAINT USE FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 11

We used data from 11 states (5,449 respondents) to examine the association between self-reported consistent use of occupant restraints for children under 11 years of age and presence of adult belt-use laws while controlling for other factors. Self-reported safety belt use by adults, age of youngest child in the household (child restraint use decreased with increasing age), and adult educational attainment were significant predictors of child restraint use; respondent age, race/ethnicity, sex, marital status, household income, and employment status were not. Adult and child occupant restraint use was higher in states with an adult safety belt law than in states without such a law.