EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND SEAT BELTS IN PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM INJURY

  1. JOSEPH J. DOYLE JR.1,
  2. STEVEN D. LEVITT2,†

Article first published online: 21 AUG 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2008.00170.x

Issue

Economic Inquiry

Economic Inquiry

Volume 48, Issue 3, pages 521–536, July 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

DOYLE, J. J. and LEVITT, S. D. (2010), EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND SEAT BELTS IN PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM INJURY. Economic Inquiry, 48: 521–536. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2008.00170.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Doyle: Associate Professor of Economics, Sloan School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, Phone 617-452-3761, Fax 617-258-6855, E-mail jjdoyle@mit.edu

  2. 2

    Levitt: Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, University of Chicago, 1126 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, Phone 773-834-1862, Fax 773-834-3040, E-mail slevitt@uchicago.edu

  1. †

    We thank Paul Heaton and Jesse Shapiro for their comments. Ethan Lieber provided outstanding research assistance. Financial support was provided by the National Science Foundation and the Sherman Shapiro Research Fund.

  • †

    We thank Paul Heaton and Jesse Shapiro for their comments. Ethan Lieber provided outstanding research assistance. Financial support was provided by the National Science Foundation and the Sherman Shapiro Research Fund.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 JUN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 21 AUG 2008
  3. Online Early publication August 21, 2008

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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 article 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 yr. 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. (JEL I18)

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