Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2010 Aug;11(4):391-8. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2010.481770.
This study aims to provide population estimates of incorrect restraint use among children aged 0-12 traveling in cars in New South Wales (NSW) and describe the errors occurring in different restraint types.
Observations of randomly selected children and restraints were conducted in situ by trained researchers at sites statewide. Observation sites were randomly selected using a multistage stratified sample plan. Restraint use errors were recorded and analyzed by severity of error and restraint type using complex survey analysis techniques.
One in two children was incorrectly restrained, and 38 percent in a serious manner. Multiple errors were common (31% of children). Both installation and "securing" errors were common, with installation errors more common in convertible restraints (rearward-facing/forward-facing restraints and forward-facing restraints/booster seats) than single-mode restraints (odds ratio [OR] 4.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-10.8). Multiple errors were more common in convertible restraints (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.9-7.0). The most frequently observed errors were excessive seat belt slack (>25 mm), incorrect belt routing, nonengagement of the seat belt buckle, very loose harness (>25 mm slack), harness off the shoulder, nonuse of belt guides, sash belt worn under the arm, and very twisted harnesses and belts (>2 twists). For rearward- and forward-facing restraints the highest priorities in terms of frequency and degradation in crash protection are errors related to harness use. For booster seat users the most important are those related to correct seat belt and belt guide use. For seat belt users, errors related to correct positioning of the sash belt are key.
The results indicate that many errors are currently occurring in the way children are using restraints, as well as problems associated with the way child restraint systems are installed in vehicles. Incorrect use is particularly problematic in convertible restraints (rearward-facing/forward-facing restraints and forward-facing restraints/booster seats). Different priorities, in terms of the frequency and potential degradation in crash protection due to incorrect use for different restraint types, exist and these are important for those designing countermeasures to this problem.
本研究旨在提供新南威尔士州（NSW）0-12 岁儿童在汽车中错误使用约束装置的人群估计，并描述不同约束类型中出现的错误。
在全州范围内的现场，由经过培训的研究人员对随机选择的儿童和约束装置进行观察。观察点是使用多阶段分层抽样计划随机选择的。使用复杂的调查分析技术，根据错误的严重程度和约束类型记录和分析约束装置使用错误。
每两个孩子中就有一个被错误地约束，其中 38%的情况很严重。常见的是多重错误（31%的儿童）。安装和“固定”错误都很常见，安装错误在可转换约束装置（后向/前向约束装置和前向约束装置/增高座椅）中比单模式约束装置更常见（比值比[OR]4.3；95%置信区间[CI]1.7-10.8）。可转换约束装置中多重错误更为常见（OR3.6；95%CI1.9-7.0）。最常观察到的错误是安全带松弛过多（>25mm）、安全带布线不正确、安全带扣未扣紧、安全带过于松动（>25mm 松弛）、肩带脱落、未使用安全带导向器、肩带在腋下、安全带扭曲严重（>2 个扭曲）。对于后向和前向约束装置，在碰撞保护方面，从频率和降级的角度来看，与安全带使用相关的错误是最高优先级。对于增高座椅使用者，最重要的是与正确使用安全带和安全带导向器相关的错误。对于安全带使用者，正确定位肩带安全带的错误是关键。
研究结果表明，目前许多错误都出现在儿童使用约束装置的方式上，以及与儿童约束系统在车辆中安装方式相关的问题。在可转换约束装置（后向/前向约束装置和前向约束装置/增高座椅）中，错误使用的问题尤为突出。对于不同类型的约束装置，由于错误使用导致的频率和潜在碰撞保护降级方面，存在不同的优先级，这对于设计针对此问题的对策非常重要。
