CHAPTER 4: 2003 CAR SEAT INSTALLATION,
INSPECTION AND TRAINING

Acquisition Of Car Seat
Most car seats (92%) were obtained new. Less than one-in-ten (7%) were acquired used. “Don’t know” or refusal to answer accounted for the remaining responses (less than 0.5%).

Figure 36
Whether Car Seat Was New Or Used When Acquired

[d]

Qx: Now thinking again about the child car seat the (AGE) usually rides in, did you get the child car seat new or used? Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N=915
Less than 0.5% answered not sure/refused.
The sum of the percentages in the pie chart does not equal 100% because the numbers are rounded.

More than three-fourths of car seats (77%) were purchased, while 20% were acquired as a gift or loaner from a relative or friend. Another 1% obtained the car seat from a loaner program.

Figure 37
How Child's Car Seat Was Obtained

[d]

Qx: Did you purchase the child car seat, did you get it as a gift or loaner from a relative or friend, or did you get it from a loaner program?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N=915
The sum of the percentages in the pie chart does not equal 100% because the numbers are rounded.

More than one-fifth (22%) of parents/caregivers who said that they received the seat as a gift or loaner from a relative or friend also answered that the seat was obtained used.

Figure 38
Whether Car Seat Was Obtained New or Used:
Seat Received As Gift Or Loaner From Relative/Friend

[d]

Qx: Now thinking again about the child car seat the (AGE) usually rides in, did you get the child car seat new or used?
Qx: Did you purchase the child car seat, did you get it as a gift or loaner from a relative or friend, or did you get it from a loaner program?
Base: Obtained the car seat as a gift or loaner from a relative or friend.
Unweighted N=180

Occasions sometimes arise where it is important to reach consumers of specific products with safety information pertaining to those products. A means of locating persons for that purpose is to collect contact information through registration cards that accompany the products. The 2003 survey asked respondents whether a registration card came with the car seat when they got it, and if so, did they fill it out and mail it back. Only parents/caregivers who said they obtained the car seat new received the questions. Almost three-quarters (73%) said a registration card came with the seat. Of these, 53% mailed back the card. Overall, 38% of those who had obtained a child car seat new indicated that a registration card came with the seat, and that they mailed it back (53% of the 73%).

Figure 39
Presence Of Registration Cards With Car Seats,
And Whether The Cards Were Mailed Back

[d]

Qx: Was there a registration card that came with the car seat when you got it?
Qx: Did you fill out and mail the registration card?
Base: Obtained the car seat new.
Unweighted N's listed above.

Sources For Information On Car Seats
The interviewers asked the parents/caregivers of children using car seats where they had gotten their information on car seats. Seven potential information sources were read, one at a time, to respondents. The respondents were asked whether they had ever read or heard of any information, or received any advice, about the need to use child car seats from that source. The respondents were then given the opportunity to volunteer additional sources where they had received car seat information. Most often, the parents/caregivers said that they had obtained information on car seats from a book, magazine or article (61%), from a family member or friend (60%) or from TV or radio (59%).

Figure 40
Sources For Information On Child Car Seats

[d]

Qx: Did you ever read or hear of any information or receive any advice about the need to use child car seats from any of the following sources? Did you get any information…?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N=915

Ease Of Use
Most parents and caregivers reported that they had relatively little difficulty installing their children’s car seats regardless of the type of seat. Overall, about three-fifths of parents/caregivers (62%) considered it very easy to attach the car seat to the vehicle they usually drove. An additional 31% considered it somewhat easy.

Figure 41
Ease Of Attaching Car Seat To Vehicle

[d]

Qx: How easy is it for you to attach the child car seat to the vehicle you usually drive… very easy, somewhat easy, or not easy at all?
Base: Child at least on occasion rides in a child car seat, and the car seat did not come attached to the vehicle.
Unweighted N's listed above.

Those respondents who said that it was only somewhat easy to attach the seat to the vehicle, or not easy at all, were asked what was difficult about attaching the seat. The two most frequent responses were adjusting the safety belt to make sure it was tight enough (28%) and fitting the safety belt through the car seat hole or loop (20%).

Table 5
What Is Difficult About Attaching Car Seat To Vehicle

Qx: What is difficult about attaching the child car seat to the vehicle?
Base: Said it was somewhat easy, or not easy at all, to attach the car seat to the vehicle.
Unweighted N=332
Total exceeds 100% due to multiple responses.

The results presented on the previous pages suggest that parents and other caregivers generally believe that they are installing child seats correctly. However, observations in the field have shown some form of car seat misuse for the vast majority of children in car seats, in the form of installation and/or buckling errors. To assess the misuse issue more fully, the interviewers asked the respondents if they had ever driven with the child in the car seat and later found that the car seat was not securely attached. Nearly one-third (31%) answered “yes”.

Figure 42
Driven With Child In Car Seat And Found Car Seat
Was Not Securely Attached

[d]

Qx: Have you ever driven with the child in the car seat and later found that the car seat was not securely attached?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat, and the car seat did not come attached to the vehicle. Unweighted N=910
The sum of the percentages in the pie chart does not equal 100% because the numbers are rounded.
Less than 0.5% answered not sure/refused.

Those respondents who acknowledged driving with the child and later discovering that the car seat was not securely attached were asked why this happened. The responses tended to revolve around carelessness, attachment difficulties, accidental behavior by accompanying children, mistakes by others, or movement of the seat within the vehicle or to another vehicle.

Table 6
Reasons Why Car Seat Was
Not Securely Attached

Qx: Why did this happen? Base: Drove with child and later found that car seat was not securely attached.
Unweighted N=290
* Less than 0.5%.
Total exceeds 100% due to multiple responses.

Table 6 on the preceding page showed movement of car seats within/between vehicles to be one of the more frequently given explanations for instances where a car seat was found not to be securely attached. Transfer of car seats from one vehicle to another occurs with regularity for some parents/caregivers. One-in-eight respondents (12%) said they move the child car seat from one vehicle to another at least a few days a week. An additional 26% do so a few days a month.

Figure 43
Frequency Car Seat Is Moved To Another Vehicle

[d]

Qx. How often do you move the child car seat from one motor vehicle to another motor vehicle? Would you say that you move the child car seat from one motor vehicle to another almost every day, a few days a week, a few days a month, a few days a year, or never?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N=915

Most often, the respondents said that they learned how to attach the child car seat to the vehicle by reading the instructions (71%). About one-in-eight (12%) said they figured it out themselves and 11% had a friend or relative show them.

Figure 44
How Learned To Attach Car Seat To Vehicle

[d]

Qx: How did you learn to attach the child car seat to the vehicle?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N=915
Total exceeds 100% due to multiple responses.

Understanding The Car Seat Instructions
Since the instructions were the predominant source for learning how to attach the car seat to the vehicle, it is useful to assess whether the public finds them understandable. Those respondents who did not state that they had learned to install the seat from reading the instructions, and also did not have a car seat that came attached to the vehicle, were asked if they had read the instructions. Two-thirds (67%) said they had.

In total, 90% of parents/caregivers had read the car seat instructions. Of these, 54% said the instructions were very easy to understand; 37% said they were somewhat easy. Among those who said they did not read the instructions, 64% conceded that the instructions were available.

Figure 45
How Easy Or Difficult The Car Seat Instructions
Were To Understand

[d]

Qx: How easy or difficult were the instructions to understand? Would you say that the instructions were very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat difficult, or very difficult to understand?
Base: Read the child car seat instructions.
Unweighted N=825

Parents/caregivers were also asked which instructions they had read. Specifically, did they read the instructions that were on the box for the car seat, the instructions that were on the label of the car seat, or the instructions that came in the owner’s manual. The respondents could select more than one source, thus the sum of the percentages for the different instruction materials exceeded 100%. Most often, the respondents indicated that they had read the owner’s manual (92%).

Figure 46
Source Of Car Seat Instructions
Read By Parents/Caregivers

[d]

Qx: Which instructions did you read? Did you read…?
Base: Read the child car seat instructions.
Unweighted N=825

As shown on page 59, 54% of all parents/caregivers who read the child car seat instructions thought they were very easy to understand. The survey found no appreciable variation in this percentage according to the source of the instructions.

Figure 47
Very Easy To Understand Car Seat Instructions
By Source Of Instructions

[d]

Qx: Which instructions did you read? Did you read…?
Qx: How easy or difficult were the instructions to understand? Would you say that the instructions were very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat difficult, or very difficult to understand?
Base: Read the child car seat instructions.
Unweighted N's listed above.
* The sum of the N-sizes for Manual/Box/Label exceeds the N-size for Total because respondents could select more than one source of instructions that they read.

LATCH System
In 2003, a series of questions was added to the survey to assess knowledge and use of the new attachment system called LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). LATCH is intended to make safety seat installation easier by providing a means of attaching the car seat to the vehicle seat without having to use the vehicle safety belt. LATCH child safety seats have a lower set of attachments that connect to bars (“anchors”) in the vehicle seat of LATCH-equipped motor vehicles, and most of the child seats have an upper tether to attach to a top anchor in the vehicle.

LATCH is required in passenger vehicles and child safety seats manufactured after September 1, 2002, although it was available in some models before that date. Thus awareness and use of the LATCH system at this time is in its early stages. This survey found that in early 2003, 27% of parents/caregivers who had a child that used a child restraint had heard of LATCH.

Figure 48
Ever Heard of LATCH

[d]

Qx. Recently a new way of attaching child car seats has been developed called LATCH. That's short for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Before today, had you ever heard of LATCH?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N=915
The sum of the percentages in the pie chart does not equal 100% because the numbers are rounded.

Respondents who had not heard of LATCH were asked if they had heard of new changes in the way that child car seats are being designed to attach to motor vehicles, even if they were not called LATCH. Less than one-in-five of them (17%) said they had heard about the new design changes. In sum, 39% of parents/caregivers of children who used car seats reported either that they had heard of LATCH or else had heard of a new attachment system that they did not label as LATCH.

Figure 49
Heard About Additional Changes In Car Seat Designs

[d]

Qx. Before today, had you heard about a change in the way that child car seats are designed to attach to motor vehicles, even if it was not called LATCH?
Base: Had not heard of LATCH.
Unweighted N=673

About one-quarter of respondents who had heard of the LATCH system had used a LATCH system child car seat. This translates to about 7% of all parents/caregivers with children in car seats.

Figure 50
Ever Used LATCH Car Seat

[d]

Qx. Have you ever used a LATCH system child car seat?
Base: Had heard of LATCH.
Unweighted N=242

While the majority said they had no difficulties, more than one-in-five who had used a LATCH system child car seat said they had difficulties attaching the seat to the vehicle.

Figure 51
Difficulties Attaching LATCH System

[d]

Qx. Did you have any difficulties attaching the LATCH system car seat to the motor vehicle?
Base: Used a LATCH system child car seat
Unweighted N=64

The most common difficulty in attaching the LATCH system car seat was finding a place for the anchor or tether. Some also said the instructions to attach the LATCH system were difficult to understand. Readers are cautioned that these results are based on very few cases (14).

Table 7
Difficulties Attaching The LATCH Car Seat:
Verbatim Responses

Qx. What difficulties did you have?
Base: Parents/caregivers who said they had difficulties attaching the LATCH system car seat.
Unweighted N=14

Because some parents/caregivers may be using LATCH but be unfamiliar with its terminology, all parents/caregivers of children using infant or front facing toddler seats (but not integrated seats) were asked if they were using the vehicle safety belt or something else to attach the child seat to the vehicle. The vast majority (97%) said they were using the vehicle safety belt.

Figure 52
Attachment of Child Car Seat to Vehicle

[d]

Qx. When you attach the child car seat to your (car/truck/van) do you use the seat belt in the (car/truck/van) to attach the child car seat, or do you use something else to attach the child car seat to the vehicle?
Base: Child rides in a car seat that does not come attached to the vehicle, and there are straps crossing both of the child's shoulders.
Unweighted N=667

As indicated on the previous page, few drivers reported using something other than the vehicle safety belt to attach the child car seat to their motor vehicle. Among those that did, the more common responses were that there was a “base” or “platform” to the seat that they used (only respondents with infant seats gave this answer), or that they used a LATCH or tether system. One respondent indicated using both a vehicle safety belt and LATCH. Readers are cautioned that these results are based on very few cases (15).

Figure 53
Other Methods Child Car Seat Is Attached To Vehicle

[d]

Qx. What do you use to attach the child car seat to your (car/truck/van)?
Base: Drivers who use something else other than a safety belt to attach the child car seat
Unweighted N=15

The majority of parents/caregivers with front facing toddler child car seats reported that it had a top tether strap on the back of the car seat, near the top.

Figure 54
Does Child Car Seat Have Tether Strap

[d]

Qx. Some child car seats have a strap on the BACK of the car seat, near the top. Does the child car seat you use with (AGE) have this kind of tether strap on its back?
Base: Child rides in a front facing car seat that does not come attached to the vehicle, and there are straps crossing both of the child's shoulders.
Unweighted N=560

The majority of parents/caregivers who had a car seat with a top tether drove with the tether strap attached to the vehicle on all trips (62%). About one-quarter of those with tether straps never used them (26%).

Figure 55
How Frequently Tether Strap Is Used

[d]

Qx. When the (AGE) rides in the child car seat, how often is the tether strap attached to the motor vehicle? Would you say that the tether strap is attached to the motor vehicle on all trips that the child rides in the car seat, most trips, some trips,
or no trips?
Base: Child car seat has a tether strap.
Unweighted N=299

The most common reason the tether strap was not used was because there was no place in the vehicle to attach the strap (50%). Thirteen percent said they did not use the tether strap because they didn’t know how to attach the strap to the vehicle.

Figure 56
Reasons Tether Strap Is Not Attached

[d]

Qx. When the child is riding in the car seat and the tether strap is not attached to the motor vehicle, what
are the reasons the tether strap is not attached?
Base: Tether strap is not used on all trips.
Unweighted N=112

Buckling Child Into Car Seat
As with installing the car seat in the vehicle, most parents/caregivers considered it easy to properly buckle the child into the car seat. Almost all parents/caregivers answered either that it was very easy (71%) or somewhat easy (27%). Booster seats (77%) were more likely to be rated as very easy to buckle in the child than front facing toddler seats (70%) or rear facing infant seats (64%).

Figure 57
Ease Of Buckling Child In Car Seat

[d]

Qx: How easy is it for you to properly buckle your child into the child car seat?
Base: Child under 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N's listed above.

Those respondents who said that it was only somewhat easy to buckle the child into the seat, or not easy at all, were asked for more detail. Most often they said that it was difficult to snap the buckles together or hard to insert the buckle into the lock (28%). About one-in-five (19%) said it was hard to adjust the shoulder straps or safety belts to fit properly or tightly. Bulky clothing (11%) or lack of cooperation from the child (12%) also made it difficult to buckle the child into the car seat.

Table 8
What Is Difficult About Buckling Child Into Car Seat

Qx: What is difficult about buckling your child into the child car seat?
Base: Said it was somewhat easy, or not easy at all, to properly buckle child into the child car seat.
Unweighted N=257
Total exceeds 100% due to multiple responses.

Children Getting Out Of Car Seats
Sixteen percent of parents/caregivers reported that the child had gotten himself or herself out of the car seat while they were driving. As expected, this was highest among older children who were riding in booster seats (21%). The 9% for children in rear facing infant seats may reflect error in describing the type of seat, or misinterpretation of this “child escape” question.

Figure 58
Child Has Gotten Out Of Car Seat
While Respondent Was Driving

[d]

Qx: Has the (AGE) ever gotten himself/herself out of the child car seat while you were driving?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N's listed above.

Use Of Inspection Stations To Check Whether Child Seat Is Being Installed Correctly
Inspection stations are places where parents and other caregivers can go to have trained technicians check whether they are correctly installing the child seat in their vehicle and properly buckling their child into the seat. These stations have been rapidly increasing in number. In 2003, 22% said they had gone to an inspection station to check their car seat attachment.

Figure 59
Ever Went To An Inspection Station To Check
Child Car Seat Attachment

[d]

Qx: In many communities, there are places where people can go to have someone check whether they are correctly attaching their car seat and buckling in their children. Did you ever go to a place like this to have someone check how you were attaching the car seat?
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion rides in a child car seat.
Unweighted N=915

Parents/caregivers who said that they had gone to an inspection station were then asked what type of organization or company sponsored the car seat check. Most often, they indicated that local police (38%) or fire or rescue units (23%) were the sponsors. State and county agencies (7%) and health organizations such as hospitals, medical or health centers, and clinics (7%) tied for a distant third.

Table 9
Sponsor Of The Inspection Station Attended

Qx: Could you tell me what type of organization or company sponsored the car seat check you went to?
Base: Said they had gone to an inspection station to have someone check how they were attaching the car seat.
Unweighted N=205
Total exceeds 100% due to multiple responses.

Most often the parents/caregivers found out about the car seat check through word-of-mouth (28%). Newspapers, television and radio advertisements for car seat checks were also mentioned, as well as notices in doctors’ offices or hospitals.

Figure 60
How Heard About Car Seat Check

[d]

Qx. How did you find out about the car seat check you went to?
Base: Said they had gone to an inspection station to have someone check how they were attaching the car seat.
Unweighted N=205
Total exceeds 100% due to multiple responses.

It is not unusual for child safety seat technicians to report a high proportion of cases at inspection stations where there was something wrong with how the seat was installed or how the child was buckled in, even surpassing 80% or 90%⁴. However, only about one-fifth of parents/caregivers (21%) reported that the checkpoint technicians found problems with how they attached the seat or buckled in their child.

Figure 61
Did The Technician Find Anything Wrong
With How They Attached Seat/Buckled Child?

[d]

Qx: Did the person who was checking the car seat for you find anything that was wrong in how you attached the seat or buckled in your child?
Base: Said they had gone to an inspection station to have someone check how they were attaching the car seat.
Unweighted N=205

The findings presented on the previous page are similar to findings of the 2000 survey; relatively few parents/caregivers reported that the technicians at the inspection stations detected anything wrong with what they were doing. Because the results substantially differed from what technicians in the field were reporting, the 2003 survey added a question to see if the level of reported misuse changed if it was not framed as something the respondents did “wrong.” The parents/caregivers were asked if the technicians suggested that they do anything differently in how they attached the seats or buckled in their children. Thirty-six percent answered “Yes,” compared to 21% who reported that the technicians found something wrong.

Figure 62
Did Someone Suggest Alternative For Attaching Car Seat

[d]

Qx. Did the person who was checking the car seat for you suggest that you do anything differently in how you attach the seat or buckle in your child?
Base: Said they had gone to an inspection station to have someone check how they were attaching the car seat.
Unweighted N=205

The most common suggestions received at the car seat inspection station were to tighten the safety belt, and to put pressure on the car seat to hold it down while attaching it. Adjusting the straps on the child more securely and using something underneath or behind the seat to make it more secure were also common suggestions.

Table 10
Suggestions For Different Attachments

Qx. What did that person suggest you do differently?
Base: Person checking the car seat suggested they do something different.
Unweighted N=75

At inspection stations, the technicians are supposed to actively engage parents and caregivers in attaching the child car seats to the vehicles. Seventy percent of the parents/caregivers affirmed that they had been given the opportunity at the inspection station to attach the seats and buckle in their children under the guidance of the technicians. However, 21% reported that they only watched the technicians perform the checks and make the adjustments.

Figure 63
Given A Chance To Practice Attaching The Seat
And Buckling In Child

[d]

Qx: During the car seat check, were you given a chance to practice attaching the seat and buckling in your child? Or did you spend all of the time watching someone else check the seat and show you how to attach it?
Base: Said they had gone to an inspection station to have someone check how they were attaching the car seat.
Unweighted N=205
The sum of the percentages in the pie chart does not equal 100% because the numbers are rounded.

The CPS (Child Passenger Safety) curriculum for CPS technicians calls for the parent or other supervising caregiver for the child to be the last person to adjust the child car seat before leaving the inspection station, rather than the technician. As noted on the previous page, about one-fifth of the parents/caregivers said they did not have the chance to practice attaching the seat while at the inspection station but instead spent all of the time watching the technician check the seat and demonstrate proper use. The remaining parents/caregivers were asked who was the last person to adjust the seat before leaving the inspection station. Slightly more than one-half of this subset of parents/caregivers (52%) reported that they were the last ones to adjust the seat, while 37% indicated that it was the technician.

Figure 64
Last Person To Adjust Car Seat

[d]

Qx. Before leaving the car seat check, who was the last person to adjust the car seat? Was that you or the
person who checked the seat?
Base: Said they had gone to an inspection station, and spent time during the inspection practicing how to attach the seat rather than simply watch the technician check the seat (also includes “Not Sure” and “Other” on page 81).
Unweighted N=162

The vast majority of the respondents (83%) felt fully confident that they could attach the car seat when they left the car seat inspection. Another 9% felt they had learned to do a better job attaching the seat and buckling in the child, but were still unsure that they could do everything correctly themselves. Only 5% felt they had not learned anything they did not already know, and no one said they felt more confused when they left than when they came to the inspection.

Figure 65
How They Felt After Leaving Car Seat Check

[d]

Qx. Which of the following statements best describes how you felt when you left the car seat check? 1) you felt more confused when you left than when you came in; 2) you felt that you had not learned anything you did not already know; 3) you felt you had learned to do a better job attaching the seat and buckling in your child, but were still unsure that you could do everything correctly yourself; or 4) you felt fully confident that you could attach the car seat and buckle in your child correctly yourself. Base: Said they had gone to an inspection station to have someone check how they were attaching the car seat.
Unweighted N=205

The few parents/caregivers who did not feel fully confident when they left the inspection station (31) were asked what they felt most unsure about. The most frequent response was “Nothing” (41%), followed by uncertainty over their ability to get the car seat attached tightly enough (21%).

Figure 66
What They Felt Most Unsure About After Car Seat Check

[d]

Qx. When you left, what did you feel most unsure about?
Base: Less than fully confident when left the car seat check.
Unweighted N=31

Frequency That Persons Outside Household Drive A Child Who Uses A Car Seat
Parents/caregivers of children who at least on occasion used car seats were asked if the child had ridden in a vehicle in the past 30 days where someone outside of the household was driving. Figure 67 restricts the analysis only to those parents/caregivers who lived with the child. More than two-in-five (45%) answered that this had occurred.

Figure 67
Child Had Ridden In Vehicle Driven
By Someone Outside Household In Past Month

[d]

Qx: During the past thirty days, has the (AGE) ridden in a vehicle where someone outside of your household was driving (includes school buses, taxis, and other private vehicles)?
Base: Child at least on occasion uses a car seat, and parent/caregiver lives with the child.
Unweighted N=884

Figure 68 compares the frequency that the selected children were driven by persons outside the household to the frequency that the same children were driven by the responding parents/caregivers (this analysis again was restricted to parents/caregivers who lived in the same household as the child). As expected, the children were transported on a far less regular basis by the non-household members, which is consistent with the findings in Chapter 2 (see page 25). For example, 56% of parents/caregivers said they drove the child 20 or more days in the past 30, whereas only 10% said the child was driven by a non-household member that number of days.

Figure 68
Frequency Child Was Driven By Respondent Versus Person
Outside Household In Past 30 Days

Frequency Respondent Drove Child (N=884)	Frequency Someone Outside Household Drove Child (N=884)
		[d]

Qx: How many days out of the past thirty days did the (AGE) ride in a vehicle that you drove?
Qx: How many days out of the past thirty days did the (AGE) ride in a vehicle driven by someone outside of your household? Base: Child under 9 at least on occasion uses a car seat, and parent/caregiver lives with the child.
Unweighted N's listed above.

When asked the identity of the driver outside the household who transported the child in the past 30 days, the parents/caregivers most often answered that it was a grandparent (45%), followed by a parent or step-parent (20%). Fewer reported that it was a brother/sister (3%) or some “other relative” (13%). The relatively high percentage for parents/step-parents when looking from the vantage of the child contrasts with the low percentage obtained from the vantage of the outside driver (see page 26). At least part of the difference may reflect aspects of custody arrangements and related perceptions. The differing time frames specified in the two questions (past month versus past year) may also be playing a role.

Figure 69
Identity Of Driver Outside Household Who Drove Child
In Past Month

[d]

Qx: Who were those drivers? (What is their relationship to the child?)
Base: Child under age 9 at least on occasion uses a car seat, parent/caregiver lives with the child, and someone outside the household drove the child in the past 30 days.
Unweighted N=420

⁴NHTSA studies have similarly found high levels of incorrect use of child safety seats among the public, including finding 73% critical misuse of child restraints during the latter part of calendar year 2002. Decina, L.E. and K.H. Lococo. Misuse of Child Restraints. DOT-HS-809-671. January 2004.