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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts in Protecting Children from Injury

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Author Info
Steven D. Levitt
Joseph J. Doyle

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Abstract

Young children are required to use child safety seats, and the age threshold at which children can legally graduate to seat belts has steadily increased. This paper tests the relative effectiveness of child safety seats, lap-and-shoulder seat belts, and lap belts in preventing injuries among motor vehicle passengers aged 2-6. We analyze three large, representative samples of crashes reported to police, as well as linked hospital data. We find no apparent difference in the two most serious injury categories for children in child safety seats versus lap-and-shoulder belts. Child safety seats provide a statistically significant 25% reduction in the least serious injury category. Lap belts are somewhat less effective than the two other types of restraints, but far superior to riding unrestrained.

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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number 12519.

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Date of creation: Sep 2006
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Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:12519

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
K2 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law
R4 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Transportation Systems

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Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. de Meza, David & Webb, David C, 2001. "Advantageous Selection in Insurance Markets," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 32(2), pages 249-62, Summer.
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  2. Steven D. Levitt, 2005. "Evidence that Seat Belts are as Effective as Child Safety Seats in Preventing Death for Children Aged Two and Up," NBER Working Papers 11591, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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