@article{ref1,
title="Improvement in booster seat use in Tennessee",
journal="Pediatrics",
year="2007",
author="Gunn, Veronica L. and Phillippi, Rhonda M. and Cooper, W. O.",
volume="119",
number="1",
pages="e131-6",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Tennessee enacted an enhanced child safety restraint law in July 2004, which included new requirements for booster seat use among 4- to 8-year-old children. The goal of this study was to evaluate the appropriate use of child safety restraints and knowledge of the enhanced law before and after its implementation. METHODS: On-site child safety restraint assessments and brief driver interviews for cars with passengers 0 to 8 years of age were conducted at 34 sites in 3 urban counties in Tennessee. Assessments were conducted 2 to 3 months before implementation of the law and 1 year after implementation of the law. Appropriateness of restraint use was defined on the basis of language in the enhanced law. RESULTS: Data were obtained for 1247 child passengers transported by 1191 drivers; 333 of the children were 0 to 3 years of age, and 914 were 4 to 8 years of age (the primary age group targeted by the enhanced law). Significant improvement in appropriate booster seat use was seen for 4- to 8-year-old passengers after implementation (39%), compared with use before implementation (29%). There was no improvement in the rate of appropriate restraint use for younger children (&lt;4 years of age) after implementation. Black passengers 4 to 8 years of age were twice as likely as white child passengers to be unrestrained, before and after implementation. Seventy-nine percent of drivers reported awareness of the new restraint law after implementation; the majority of drivers obtained information from television advertisements. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in booster seat use were seen after adoption of an enhanced state law requiring use; however, racial differences in restraint use persisted among 4- to 8-year-old passengers. Additional study of barriers to booster seat use among drivers of black child passengers and unrestrained children is warranted.   <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0031-4005",
doi="10.1542/peds.2006-1876",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-1876"
}