Restraint Usage among Crash-Involved Motor Vehicle Occupants

摘要

Objectives of this study were to identify recent trends in restraint use in Michigan and assess the effectiveness of mandatory restraint laws in increasing the use of occupant restraint systems and decreasing traffic casualties. All reported crash-involved motor vehicle occupants in Michigan from January 1978 through December 1982 were examined. Restraint use in Michigan was found to vary considerably by age, alcohol or drug use, seating position, number of vehicle occupants, injury severity, vehicle damage severity, vehicle size and type, time of day, day of week, highway class, and county. Use of restraints decreased from 1978 to 1980, but increased from 1980 to 1982. The mandatory child restraint law was associated with a 208% increase in restraint usage among 1-3-year-olds, a 50% reduction in injuries to infants under age 1, and a 17% reduction in injuries to toddlers age 1-3. Recommendations include a longer-term followup study of the child restraint law and, based on the demonstrated effectiveness of Michigan's child restraint law, an expansion of the law to cover motor vehicle occupants of all ages.