Future Program Efforts

Model Language to Be Developed for Mandatory Booster Seat Use Provisions

NHTSA and other organizations will develop model language for State legislators to use to amend their State child restraint laws to better protect older-child passengers. As noted previously, as of November 1, 2005, 33 States and the District of Columbia had enacted provisions requiring the use of booster seats or other appropriate restraint by older-child passengers. Requirements vary widely from State to State, and no law is considered optimal due to the existence of unnecessary loopholes, exceptions, and exemptions.

State Legislators’ Involvement in Booster Seat Issue to Be Sought

Specially adapted activities and print and multimedia publications will be developed to raise State legislators’ awareness and understanding of the issues involving older-child passengers -- to promote model legislative language (to be developed), and to spur their involvement in State legislative deliberations on this subject. NHTSA will monitor legislation introduced around the country, and will examine the degree to which legislation incorporates the model legislative language.

Periodic Booster Seat Coordination Meetings to Be Convened

Periodic booster seat coordination meetings will provide a focused and organized forum to stimulate discussion about the best ways to increase booster seat use at the local level and facilitate the widespread availability of new research findings. They will enable NHTSA, other Federal agencies, and community-based practitioners to stay abreast of successful intervention strategies in use around the country.

The meetings will also be a source for identifying areas in which gaps in legislation, enforcement, public information, education, and partnerships exist, and will offer suggestions to address these needs.

Specialized Tools for Law Enforcement to Be Developed

Specialized tools will be developed for police officers to use in States with mandatory booster seat use requirements. These may include a “roll call” video and companion educational publications, a user-friendly template for detailing the specific provisions of a State’s child restraint law requiring booster seat use, and tips to assist officers in determining whether a violation of these provisions has occurred.

These specialized law enforcement publications will be developed in cooperation with law enforcement agencies to identify special approaches they have found particularly effective in overcoming physical and other barriers to enforcing booster seat requirements (e.g., determining a child's age, height, or weight; overcoming visual barriers, such as glare and tinted glass; and distinguishing the use of an adult safety belt from that of a backless booster seat).

Observational Booster Seat Survey To Be Conducted in 2006

In 2006, NHTSA will conduct an observational booster seat survey to begin the process of obtaining a reliable national estimate of booster seat use among children up to age 12, but will concentrate on children 4 to 8. No existing survey or other data source provides probability-based observational data on booster seat use. The survey will be conducted in conjunction with NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Usage Survey (NOPUS). When screening vehicles for children in booster seats, NHTSA will survey many additional vehicles with other child passengers. The survey will include diverse representation of different topographic and climate regions of the United States, demographic groups, and extent of urbanization.