Working Paper: NBER ID: w12519
Authors: Steven D. Levitt; Joseph J. Doyle
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.
Keywords: Child Safety Seats; Seat Belts; Injury Prevention; Motor Vehicle Crashes
JEL Codes: K2; R4
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Child safety seats (R48) | least serious injury category (Y90) |
| Lap-and-shoulder belts (R48) | least serious injury category (Y90) |
| Lap-and-shoulder belts (R48) | serious injuries for children aged 2 through 6 (J28) |
| Lap belts (R48) | serious injuries for children aged 2 through 6 (J28) |
| Lap belts (R48) | injuries compared to unrestrained (J28) |
| Child safety seats (R48) | injuries if using lap-and-shoulder belts (J28) |
| Lap-and-shoulder belts (R48) | protection for fatal or incapacitating injuries (J28) |
| Lap-and-shoulder belts (R48) | protection for non-incapacitating injuries (J28) |
| Child safety seats (R48) | better than all other restraint types for least serious injuries (R48) |