Randomized Control Trial of Booster Seat Education Material to Increase Perceived Benefit Among Parents

The current Transport Canada booster seat education material focuses on imparting guidelines; that is, it describes, in plain language, the minimum and maximum ages, heights, and weights to determine when a child should use a booster seat, and when it is safe for a child to use only the seat belt. This material does not describe the principle of operation of seat belts (i.e., redirecting crash forces to the rib cage and pelvis), nor the principle of operation of booster seats (i.e., ensuring the seat belt is placed correctly across the chest and hips).

Enhancements to the booster seat education material were developed based on the hypothesis that parents would better appreciate the additional injury risk reduction afforded by booster seats, if they understand that: (1) seat belts prevent injuries by redirecting crash forces to stronger parts of the body (i.e., rib cage and pelvis); and (2), without booster seats, children would wear the seat belt on their abdomen and neck, which directs crash forces to more vulnerable anatomical structures (i.e., internal organs and spine).