NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590

1

Child Restraint Use by Region Child Restraint Use by Driver Belt Status

Child Restraint Use, by Age and Restraint Type

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s

National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2005-2006

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s

National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2006

February 2007 DOT HS 810 737

Child Restraint Use in 2006─ Overall Results

Donna Glassbrenner, Ph.D. Jianqiang Ye

The majority of young children riding in motor vehicles in the United States continued to be restrained by some type of child safety seat or seat belt, with 98 percent

ofinfants and 89percent of children ages 1 to 3 so restrainedin 2006. This resultis from the NationalOccupant ProtectionUse Survey (NOPUS), whichprovides the

only probability-based observed data on child restraint use in the United States. The NOPUS is conducted annually by the National Center for Statistics and

Analysis oftheNational HighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration(NHTSA).

The 2006 survey also found the following:

• Children between the ages of 4 and 7 continued to be restrained at somewhat lower rates than younger children, with 78 percent of

these children restrained by a safety seat or seat belt in 2006.

• Most children continued to ride in the rear seat of vehicles. In 2006, 93 percent of infants, 94 percent of children ages 1 to 3, and 91

percent of children ages 4 to 7 rode in the rear seat.

• Child restraint use continued to be higher in the West than other parts of the country in 2006.

• Child restraint use continued to be lower when the driver was unbelted than for belted drivers in 2006.

60%

85%

58%

87%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Driven by a Belted

Driver

Driven by an

Unbelted Driver

Child Restraint Use

2005

2006

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2006

93%

81% 82% 80%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Northeast Midwest South West Percent of Children in Safety

Seats and Seat Belts

67%

16% 4% 3% 15%

59%

2% 3%

48%36%

11% 22%

0%

50%

100%

P

erc

e

nt of C

hildre

n

Rear Facing Safety Seat Front Facing Safety Seat High-backed Booster Seat

Safety Belt or Backless Booster Unrestrained

0-12 Months 1-3 Years 4-7 Years

11%
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 

2

Child Restraint Use in Passenger Motor Vehicles, by Major Characteristics 

2005 2006 2005-2006 Change 

Child Passenger Group1 Restraint 

Use2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low 

in Group3

Restraint 

Use2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low 

in Group3

Change in 

Percentage 

Points 

Confidence in 

a Change in 

Use4

Conversion 

Rate5

All Child Passengers (Ages <8) 82% 84% 2 30% 9% 

Age <1 (Infants) 98% 100% 98% 100% 0 9% 9% 

Ages 1-3 89% 100% 89% 96% 0 6% 3% 

Ages 4-7 76% 100% 78% 100% 2 45% 11% 

Children Driven by 

a Belted Driver 85% 100% 87% 100% 2 34% 12% 

an Unbelted Driver 60% 100% 58% 100% -2 15% -4% 

a Male Driver 79% 88% 86% 77% 7 76% 31% 

a Female Driver 84% 88% 82% 77% -2 33% -12% 

a Driver Age 16-24 75% 89% 83% 59% 8 57% 29% 

a Driver Age 25-69 83% 86% 84% 63% 1 14% 4% 

a Driver Age 70+ 92% 98% 79% 68% -13 63% -151% 

a White Driver 87% 100% 86% 94% -1 13% -5% 

a Black Driver 61% 100% 64% 100% 3 39% 9% 

a Driver of Another Race 80% 65% 86% 70% 6 49% 27% 

Children in 

the Front Seat 88% 94% 86% 72% -2 22% -11% 

the Rear Seat 82% 94% 83% 72% 1 34% 10% 

Child Passengers on 

Expressways 85% 89% 84% 50% -1 24% -11% 

Surface Streets 81% 89% 84% 50% 3 51% 16% 

Child Passengers Traveling in 

Fast Traffic 84% 75% 78% 85% -6 65% -37% 

Medium-Speed Traffic 82% 54% 86% 72% 4 44% 20% 

Slow Traffic 80% 76% 85% 67% 5 69% 24% 

Child Passengers Traveling in 

Heavy Traffic NA 98% NA 100% NA NA NA 

Moderately Dense Traffic 82% 51% 99% 100% 17 96% 94% 

Light Traffic 82% 64% 83% 100% 1 21% 6% 

Child Passengers Traveling Through 

Light Precipitation 83% 57% 88% 75% 5 63% 29% 

Fog 87% 66% 90% 74% 3 9% 28% 

Clear Weather Conditions 82% 71% 83% 86% 1 21% 6% 

Child Passengers in 

Passenger Cars 76% 100% 78% 100% 2 38% 11% 

Vans & SUVs 92% 100% 91% 100% -1 16% -7% 

Pickup Trucks 79% 67% 86% 61% 7 45% 31% 

Child Passengers in the 

Northeast 76% 87% 81% 70% 5 39% 20% 

Midwest 77% 92% 82% 71% 5 62% 19% 

South 79% 82% 80% 79% 1 14% 6% 

West 91% 100% 93% 100% 2 30% 19% 

Child Passengers in 

Urban Areas 80% 79% 73% 96% -7 57% -32% 

Suburban Areas 83% 64% 87% 95% 4 61% 24% 

Rural Areas 83% 59% 84% 55% 1 17% 7% 

Child Passengers Traveling During 

Weekdays 82% 59% 84% 64% 2 42% 14% 

Rush Hours 86% 97% 78% 95% -8 71% -58% 

Nonrush Hours 78% 97% 89% 95% 11 100% 49% 

Weekends 83% 59% 83% 64% 0 5% -2% 

1 Passengers under 8 years old observed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the right-front seat or the second row of seats in passenger vehicles with no commercial or government markings that are 

stopped at a stop sign or stop light. Age, gender, and racial classifications are based on the subjective assessments of roadside observers. 2 Use of child safety seats (front- or rear-facing), booster seats, and seat belts. 3 The level of statistical confidence that use in the passenger group (e.g., child passengers in the Northeast) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary passenger group (e.g., 

combined child passengers in the Midwest, in the South and in the West). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are rounded to the 

nearest percentage point, and so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent. 4 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2006 use rate is different from the 2005 rate. 

5 The “conversion rate” is the percentage reduction in restraint nonuse. This is based on unrounded use rates. 

NA: Data not sufficient to produce a reliable estimate. 

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis 
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 

3

The Percent of Children Who Ride in the Rear Seat, by Major Characteristics 

2005 2006 2005-2006 Change 

Child Passengers Group1 Percentage 

Who Were in 

the Rear Seat2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low in 

Group3

Percentage 

Who Were in 

the Rear Seat2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low in 

Group3

Change in 

Percentage 

Points 

Confidence in 

a Change in 

Rear Seat 

Occupancy4

Percentage 

Reduction in 

Front Seat 

Occupancy5

91% 92% 1 65% 18% 

Age <1 (Infants) 97% 99% 93% 58% -4 75% -153% 

Ages 1-3 98% 100% 94% 89% -4 72% -169% 

Ages 4-7 85% 100% 91% 91% 6 98% 39% 

Child Passengers in States With6 

Law Requiring Children Ages <6 Be in the Rear Seat 92% 79% 95% 97% 3 75% 38% 

No Such Law 90% 79% 91% 97% 1 62% 15% 

Children Driven by 

a Belted Driver 90% 75% 92% 55% 2 68% 20% 

an Unbelted Driver 92% 75% 92% 55% 0 5% -2% 

a Male Driver 92% 82% 92% 58% 0 8% 3% 

a Female Driver 90% 82% 92% 58% 2 73% 26% 

a Driver Age 16-24 93% 91% 94% 81% 1 23% 15% 

a Driver Age 25-69 90% 84% 92% 74% 2 69% 19% 

a Driver Age 70+ 82% 77% 89% 66% 7 26% 37% 

a White Driver 90% 67% 92% 67% 2 58% 18% 

a Black Driver 92% 81% 91% 66% -1 29% -20% 

a Driver of Another Race 90% 51% 94% 88% 4 69% 39% 

Child Passengers on 

Expressways 92% 90% 93% 56% 1 2% 1% 

Surface Streets 90% 90% 92% 56% 2 78% 25% 

Child Passengers Traveling in 

Fast Traffic 91% 53% 92% 51% 1 51% 17% 

Medium-Speed Traffic 93% 95% 90% 89% -3 66% -34% 

Slow Traffic 88% 91% 94% 92% 6 93% 48% 

Child Passengers Traveling in 

Heavy Traffic NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 

Moderately Dense Traffic 95% 97% 100% 100% 5 87% 93% 

Light Traffic 90% 98% 92% 100% 2 68% 19% 

Child Passengers Traveling Through 

Light Precipitation 93% 77% 88% 83% -5 44% -61% 

Fog 95% 95% 92% 57% -3 55% -75% 

Clear Weather Conditions 90% 94% 93% 85% 3 78% 24% 

Child Passengers in 

Passenger Cars 91% 64% 93% 72% 2 51% 21% 

Vans & SUVs 94% 100% 94% 93% 0 1% 0% 

Pickup Trucks 70% 100% 74% 100% 4 36% 14% 

Child Passengers in the 

Northeast 95% 95% 96% 100% 1 34% 19% 

Midwest 90% 61% 89% 88% -1 10% -5% 

South 91% 60% 93% 61% 2 46% 19% 

West 89% 72% 90% 81% 1 17% 9% 

Child Passengers in 

Urban Areas 88% 77% 90% 79% 2 29% 13% 

Suburban Areas 91% 67% 93% 88% 2 68% 25% 

Rural Areas 91% 64% 91% 70% 0 4% -2% 

Child Passengers Traveling During 

Weekdays 90% 54% 91% 95% 1 19% 5% 

Rush Hours 88% 93% 92% 81% 4 73% 35% 

Nonrush Hours 92% 93% 90% 81% -2 62% -34% 

Weekends 91% 54% 94% 95% 3 74% 37% 

Child Passengers in a 

Rear-Facing Car Seat 98% 100% 92% 100% -6 82% -263% 

Front-Facing Car Seat 79% 100% 99% 52% 20 100% 94% 

High-Backed Booster Seat 99% 100% 99% 100% 0 2% -4% 

Seat belt or Backless Booster Seat 99% 100% 86% 100% -13 100% -872% 

No Restraint Observed 93% 94% 93% 78% 0 1% 0% 

1 Passengers under 8 years old observed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the right-front seat or the second row of seats in passenger vehicles with no commercial or government markings that are 

stopped at a stop sign or stoplight. Age, gender, and racial classifications are based on the subjective assessments of roadside observers. 2 The percentage of the child passenger group who were in the second row of seats at the time of observation. 3 The level of statistical confidence that use in the passenger group (e.g., child passengers in the Northeast) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary passenger group (e.g., 

combined child passengers in the Midwest, in the South and in the West). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are rounded to the 

nearest percentage point, and so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent. 4 The degree of statistical confidence that the percentage of the child passenger group who were in the rear seat in 2006 is different from the analogous percentage from 2005. 5 The percentage reduction that occurred during the period 2005-2006 in the percentage of the child passenger group that were in the front seat. 6 Use rates reflect the law in effect at the time data was collected. 

NA: Data not sufficient to produce a reliable estimate. 

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis 
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 

4

The Types of Restraints Used by Children 

The Percentage of Children 

Observed Using the Restraint 

Type1 

2005-2006 Change 

Restraint Type1

20057 20067

Change in 

Percentage 

Points2

Confidence in 

a Change in 

Percentage3

What We Should 

See4

Infants (Age <1) 

Rear-Facing Car Seat 45% 48% 3 24% 100% 

Front-Facing Car Seat 49% 36% -13 80% 0% 

High-Backed Booster Seat NA NA NA NA NA 

Seat belt or Backless Booster Seat 1% 11% 10 100% 0% 

No Restraint Observed 2% 2% 0 9% 0% 

Children Ages 1-3 Years 

Rear-Facing Car Seat 6% 3% -3 82% 1.5% 

Front-Facing Car Seat 66% 67% 1 16% 98 - 98.5% 

High-Backed Booster Seat 5% 4% -1 25% See footnote 5. 

Seat belt or Backless Booster Seat 13% 15% 2 32% See footnote 5. 

No Restraint Observed 11% 11% 0 6% 0% 

Children Ages 4-7 Years 

Rear-Facing Car Seat NA NA NA NA NA 

Front-Facing Car Seat 12% 16% 4 76% 48 - 97% 

High-Backed Booster Seat 8% 3% -5 95% See footnote 6. 

Seat belt or Backless Booster Seat 56% 59% 3 50% See footnote 6. 

No Restraint Observed 24% 22% -2 45% 0% 

1 Among Passengers who appear to be under 8 years old, observed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the right-front seat or the second row of seats in passenger vehicles with no commercial or 

government markings that are stopped at a stop sign or stoplight. 2 The percentage point difference between the percentage of children who were in the restraint type in 2006 and the analogous percentage from 2005. 3 The degree of statistical confidence that the percentage of children who were in the restraint type in 2006 is different from the analogous percentage from 2005. 4 The distribution of restraint types that we would see if all children were restrained in the type of restraint recommended by NHTSA. 5 Between 0 and 0.5 percent of children ages 1-3 years old should be in booster seats, and virtually none should be in seat belts. 6 Between 3 and 51 percent of children ages 4-7 years old should be in booster seats, and virtually none should be in seat belts. 7 Cells might not sum to 100% due to rounding. 

NA: Data insufficient to form a reliable estimate. 

Source: Data on percentages of children observed in the restraint types are from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for 

Statistics and Analysis. The final column of data labeled “What We Should See” was calculated from the CDC Growth Charts: United States, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National 

Center for Health Statistics, May 2000. 

   
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 

5

Child Restraint Use in Passenger Motor Vehicles, by Age and Other Characteristics 

2005 2006 2005-2006 Change 

Child Passenger Group1 Restraint 

Use2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low 

in Group3

Restraint 

Use2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low 

in Group3

Change in 

Percentage 

Points 

Confidence 

in a Change 

in Use4

Conversion 

Rate5

Infants (Age <1) 

All Infants 98% 100% 98% 100% 0 9% 9% 

Infants Driven by 

a Belted Driver 98% 57% 99% 88% 1 31% 33% 

an Unbelted Driver NA 57% 94% 88% NA NA NA 

a Male Driver 97% 78% 100% 100% 3 73% 100% 

a Female Driver 99% 78% 97% 100% -2 65% -118% 

Infants in 

Passenger Cars 97% 67% 98% 100% 1 8% 11% 

Vans & SUVs 98% 64% 98% 100% 0 0% 0% 

Pickup Trucks NA 98% NA NA NA NA NA 

Infants in the 

Northeast 97% 65% 93% 100% -4 35% -114% 

Midwest 97% 62% 99% 100% 2 46% 82% 

South 98% 60% 99% 100% 1 57% 67% 

West 99% 74% 100% NA 1 66% 100% 

Infants in 

Urban Areas 96% 70% 92% 100% -4 44% -102% 

Suburban Areas 98% 51% 99% 100% 1 46% 60% 

Rural Areas 100% 97% 99% 100% -1 82% NA 

Children Ages 1-3 Years

All Children Ages 1-3 89% 100% 89% 96% 0 6% 3% 

Children Ages 1-3 Driven by 

a Belted Driver 93% 100% 92% 99% -1 11% -9% 

an Unbelted Driver 67% 100% 70% 99% 3 13% 8% 

a Male Driver 83% 97% 90% 57% 7 75% 42% 

a Female Driver 93% 97% 89% 57% -4 58% -63% 

Children Ages 1-3 in 

Passenger Cars 82% 100% 84% 100% 2 22% 11% 

Vans & SUVs 97% 100% 97% 100% 0 20% -25% 

Pickup Trucks 78% 76% 99% 100% 21 92% 94% 

Children Ages 1-3 in the 

Northeast 75% 99% 85% 100% 10 46% 40% 

Midwest 89% 51% 90% 100% 1 6% 6% 

South 90% 66% 85% 100% -5 55% -53% 

West 93% 94% 98% 100% 5 92% 74% 

Children Ages 1-3 in 

Urban Areas 89% 53% 77% 100% -12 68% -118% 

Suburban Areas 87% 95% 95% 100% 8 89% 59% 

Rural Areas 98% 100% 87% 100% -11 94% -488% 
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 

6

2005 2006 2005-2006 Change 

Child Passenger Group1 Restraint 

Use2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low 

in Group3

Restraint 

Use2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low 

in Group3

Change in 

Percentage 

Points 

Confidence 

in a Change 

in Use4

Conversion 

Rate5

Children Ages 4-7 Years

All Children Ages 4-7 76% 100% 78% 100% 2 45% 11% 

Children Ages 4-7 Driven by 

a Belted Driver 79% 99% 83% 100% 4 55% 17% 

an Unbelted Driver 45% 99% 43% 100% -2 14% -5% 

a Male Driver 75% 56% 82% 82% 7 67% 26% 

a Female Driver 76% 56% 76% 82% 0 1% 0% 

Children Ages 4-7 in 

Passenger Cars 68% 100% 71% 100% 3 29% 8% 

Vans & SUVs 86% 100% 87% 100% 1 22% 9% 

Pickup Trucks 78% 62% 81% 100% 3 13% 10% 

Children Ages 4-7 in the 

Northeast 74% 57% 76% 100% 2 21% 9% 

Midwest 72% 82% 75% 100% 3 33% 11% 

South 70% 95% 75% 100% 5 44% 18% 

West 88% 100% 88% 100% 0 4% 3% 

Children Ages 4-7 in 

Urban Areas 71% 90% 68% 100% -3 30% -11% 

Suburban Areas 78% 85% 80% 100% 2 34% 13% 

Rural Areas 74% 63% 81% 100% 7 64% 25% 

1 Passengers under 8 years old observed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the right-front seat or the second row of seats in passenger vehicles with no commercial or government markings that are 

stopped at a stop sign or stoplight. Age, gender, and racial classifications are based on the subjective assessments of roadside observers. 2 Use of child safety seats (front- or rear-facing), booster seats, and seat belts. 3 The level of statistical confidence that use in the passenger group (e.g., child passengers in the Northeast) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary passenger group (e.g., 

combined child passengers in the Midwest, in the South and in the West). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are rounded to the 

nearest percentage point, and so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent. 4 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2006 use rate is different from the 2005 rate. 

5 The “conversion rate” is the percentage reduction in restraint nonuse. This is based on unrounded use rates. 

NA: Data not sufficient to produce a reliable estimate. 

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis

The Types of Restraints Used 

The NOPUS observes the following categories of restraints:  rear‐facing safety seats; front‐facing safety seats; high‐backed booster seats; and seat belts or backless

booster seats.  Backless booster seats cannotreliably be distinguished from seat belts from roadside observation.  Consequently NOPUS cannot estimate booster seat

use.

NHTSArecommends the following concerningthe type ofrestraintthat childrenshoulduse whentravelinginmotorvehicles:

• Children under 1 year old should be in rear‐facing safety seats.

• Children 1 or older who are between 20 and 40 pounds should be in front‐facing safety seats.

• Children who have exceeded the height or weight limits for their forward‐facing safety seats and are less than 4’9” tall should be in

booster seats.

Based on these recommendations and data on the height and weight distributions of children, we have calculated the distributions ofrestraint types that we would

see if all children were restrained in the recommended restraint types.  These appear in the last column of the table, “The Types of Restraints Used by Children.”

Note thatthedistributions for childrenages 1‐3 andchildrenages 4‐7 involve ranges,reflectingthatfront‐facingsafetyseatshave a range of height andweightlimits.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 

7

Survey Methodology 

The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) is the only probability‐based observational survey of child restraint use in the United States.  The survey

observes usage as it actually occurs at a random selection ofroadway sites, and so provides the best tracking of the extent to which the Nation’s children are being

protectedbythese life‐savingdevices.

The surveydata is collectedbysendingtrainedobservers toprobabilistically sampledintersections controlledby a stopsignor stoplight, wherevehicle occupants are

observed from the roadside.  Data is collected between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.  Only stopped vehicles are observed to permit time to collect the variety of

information required by the survey, including subjective assessments of vehicle occupants’ age and race. Observers collect data on the driver,right‐front passenger,

and up to two passengers in the second row of seats. Observers do not interview

vehicle occupants, so that the NOPUS captures the untainted behavior of occupants.

The 2006 NOPUS data was collected between June 5 and June 26, while the 2005 data

was collectedbetweenJune 6 andJune 25, 2005.

Because the NOPUS sites were chosenthroughprobabilisticmeans, we cananalyze the

statistical significance ofits results. Statistically significantincreases in child restraintuse

(respectively, rear‐seat occupancy rates) between 2005 and 2006 are identified in the

tables of childrestraintuse estimates (respectively,rear‐seat occupancy rates) byhaving

a result that is 90 percent or greater in column 7. Statistical confidence levels that

restraint use in a given child passenger group, e.g., child passengers in the Northeast, is

higher or lower than in the complementary passenger group, e.g., combined child

passengers in the Midwest, in the South and in the West, are provided in columns 3

and 5.  Such comparisons are made within categories delineated by changes in row

shading in the tables.  The exceptions to this are the grouping, “ChildrenDriven by...”,

which is divided into the four categories of driver belt use, driver gender, driver age, and driverrace, and the grouping, “Child Passengers Traveling During ...,” in

whichweekdays are comparedtoweekends, andweekdayrushhourto weekdaynonrushhour.

   

The NOPUS uses a complex multistage probability sample, statistical data editing, imputation of unknown values, and complex estimation and variance estimation

procedures.  The 2006 survey results reflectthe partial incorporation of a new set of probabilistically‐designed observation sites.  Specifically,the 2006 survey utilized

half of the observation sites from the previous survey years and half of the sites from the newly designed sample of observation sites.  The 2005 data was obtained

fromthe oldobservationsites only.

Data collection, estimation, and variance estimation for the NOPUS are conducted by Westat, Inc., under the direction of the National Center for Statistics and

Analysis inNHTSAunderFederal contractnumberDTNH22‐05‐D‐01002.  

Definitions 

The surveyclassifieda childas:

• restrained in a rear‐facing safety seat if the child appeared to be on a seat on top of the vehicle seat, faced the rear of a vehicle, and there

were harness straps across the front of the child.

• restrained in a front‐facing safety seat if the child appeared to be on a seat on top of the vehicle seat, faced the front of a vehicle, and

there were harness straps across the front of the child.

• restrained in a high‐backed booster seat if the child appeared to be on a seat on top of the vehicle seat and there was a shoulder belt

across the front of the child.

• restrained in a seat belt or backless booster seat if there was a shoulder belt across the front of the child but the observers could not see

whether the child was in a seat on top of the vehicle seat.

• restrained if s/he was restrained in any of

these (a rear‐facing safety seat, front‐facing

safety seat, high‐backed booster seat, or seat

belt or backless booster seat). The remaining

children were classified as unrestrained.

Note that in the survey there is no such

notion of being “unrestrained” in, for

example, a front‐facing safety seat. NOPUS

does not observe the use of lap belts, and

does not distinguish between seat belts and

backless booster seats, because these

assessments cannot be reliably observed

from the roadside.   

Sites, Vehicles, and Occupants 

Observed 

Numbers of 2005 2006 Percentage 

Change 

Sites Observed 1,200 1,200 0% 

Vehicles Observed 43,000 43,000 0% 

Children Observed 

Age <1 

Ages 1-3 Years 

Ages 4-7 Years 

300 

800 

1,500 

250 

700 

1,350 

-13% 

-12% 

 -11% 

States With Laws Requiring Children Age 5 

and Younger Be in the Rear Seat1

California Delaware Georgia 

Maine New Jersey Rhode Island 

South Carolina Tennessee Washington 

Wyoming 

1

Among children less than 80 pounds and less than 54” tall. States with laws in effect as of June 

30, 2006. Also includes DC. In no other States did such laws take effect during the period June 

30, 2005 – June 30, 2006. 
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590

8

The racial categories “Black”, “White”, and “Other Races” appearing in the tables reflect subjective characterizations by roadside observers regarding the race of

vehicle occupants. Likewise observers’recorded the age group (8-15 years; 16-24 years; 25-69 years; and 70 years or older)that best fittheir visual assessment of each

observedoccupant.

Atthe time the 2006 surveywas conducted, 10 States requiredchildren5 andyoungerwhoweighless than80pounds andare less than54” tallto ride inthe rear seat

ofvehicles.

The “conversionrate” is the percentage reduction in restraint nonuse. This rate roughly reflects the percentage of unrestrained children in 2005 who were restrained

in2006.

"Expressways" aredefinedto be roadways withlimitedaccess,while "surface streets" comprise all otherroadways.

A roadway is defined to have "fast traffic" if during the observation period the average speed of passenger vehicles that passed the observer(s) exceeded 50 mph,

with"mediumspeedtraffic"definedas 31 - 50mphand"slowtraffic"definedas 30mphor slower.

A roadway is definedto have "heavy traffic"ifthe average number of vehicles perlane mile on the roadwayduring the observation period exceeded 45 vehicles per

lanemile, with"moderatelydense traffic"definedas 26 - 45vehiclesperlanepermile and"lighttraffic"havingatmost 25vehiclesperlanepermile.

For More Information 

Detailed analyses of the data in this publication, as well as additional data and information on the survey design and analysis procedures, will be available in

upcomingpublications tobepostedattheWebsitewww-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.htmlin2007.

Formore informationonthe campaignbyNHTSAtoincrease childrestraintuse, see www.nhtsa.gov.

The NOPUS also observes othertypes ofrestraints, such as seat belts and motorcycle helmets, and observes driver cell phone use. This publication is part of a series

that presents overallresults from the survey on these topics. Please see other members of the series, such as “Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2006 – Overall Results,” for

the latestdataonthese topics.