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Are Booster Seats More Effective than Child Safety Seats or Seat Belts at Reducing Traffic Fatalities among Children?

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Listed:
  • D. Mark Anderson

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics, Montana State University, and IZA)

  • Sina Sandholt

    (School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University)

Abstract

In an effort to increase booster seat use among children, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is encouraging state legislators to promote stricter booster seat laws, yet there is a paucity of information on booster seat efficacy relative to other forms of restraint. Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the period 2008–16, the current study examines the effectiveness of booster seats relative to child safety seats and adult seat belts. For children two to five years of age, we find some evidence to suggest that booster seats are the least effective form of restraint. For children six to nine years of age, all three forms of restraint appear equally effective.

Suggested Citation

  • D. Mark Anderson & Sina Sandholt, 2019. "Are Booster Seats More Effective than Child Safety Seats or Seat Belts at Reducing Traffic Fatalities among Children?," American Journal of Health Economics, MIT Press, vol. 5(1), pages 42-64, Winter.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:amjhec:v:5:y:2019:i:1:p:42-64
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    booster seats; child safety seats; traffic fatalities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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