PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

From 1993 until 1995, there was an average of 68 fatalities or injuries for vehicle occupants under the age of four in the Baldwin Park and East Los Angeles areas. Research shows that when used correctly, child safety seats are effective in preventing death and reducing serious injury. Despite aggressive enforcement efforts, the child safety seat usage rate in the affected areas is only 49 percent. This compliance rate is well below the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) goal of 80 percent. It is also considerably below the stated wide usage rate of 86.8 percent (1996). NHTSA studies show that one quarter of child safety seats are not used correctly. Examples of misuse include improper seat placement in vehicles and failing to secure a child in the seat.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals of Operation Saferide were to:

• increase the child safety seat compliance rate from 49 percent to 70 percent;
• reduce fatalities and injuries for vehicle occupants under age four by 25 percent;
• conduct 100 child safety seat workshops for licensed day care providers and interested child caregivers;
• issue at least one media release every quarter in each area;
• conduct at least three traffic safety presentations per quarter in each area;
• distribute 2,000 child safety seats according to the guidelines established in the agreement between the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and participating hospitals;
• conduct 48 highly publicized safety seat violation saturation patrols; and
• conduct child safety seat usage surveys during various months in 1998 and 1999.
  

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The grant project provided funds for law enforcement overtime and public awareness materials for presentations in Baldwin Park and East Los Angeles at venues including civic and community groups meetings, traffic safety fairs, and other safety events. Additionally, each area conducted workshops for licensed day care facilities. The program also provided funds for purchasing 2,000 child safety seats. The seats were given away as a part of the prenatal program of a selected hospital and as a part of a public awareness campaign supporting child safety seat compliance.

RESULTS

Over the length of the project (July 1, 1998 - June 30, 1999):

• Child safety seat usage rates increased from a base survey rate of 49 percent to 70 percent.
• The number of fatalities and injuries for vehicle occupants under age four decreased from a yearly average of 68 to 47.
• The project provided child safety seats, as well as training in proper use of the seats.