Effectiveness of Michigan's Mandatory Child Restraint Law

摘要

Michigan implemented a law in April, 1982, mandating the use of child restraint devices for children under age four traveling in automobiles. This study assessed the effects of that law on restraint use and injury rates among young children. Box-Jenkins intervention analysis models were developed using data on all police-reported crash-involved residents of Michigan between January, 1978, and December, 1983. Results indicated a 25% decrease in the number of children under age four injured in crashes. The 25% reduction in the number of injuries to young children means that an estimated 522 children per year are not injured because of Michigan's mandatory child restraint law. Based on these findings, expansion of the child restraint law to motorists of all ages is recommended.