Tribes & Transportation Tribes & Transportation ConferenceConference

MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT OCCUPANT PROTECTIONOCCUPANT PROTECTION

Presented by: Presented by:

Patti Klicka & Jennifer BoogePatti Klicka & Jennifer Booge

MYTH: I am better off in a crash MYTH: I am better off in a crash ejected from the vehicleejected from the vehicle

FACT:FACT: Vehicle controlVehicle control Remain consciousRemain conscious Risk of death due to ejectionRisk of death due to ejection Unrestrained occupants are a danger to othersUnrestrained occupants are a danger to others

MYTH: More teens die by suicide, MYTH: More teens die by suicide, cancer or homicide than traffic cancer or homicide than traffic

crashescrashes

FACT: 1999-2003FACT: 1999-2003 236 teens died in traffic crashes236 teens died in traffic crashes 91 by suicide91 by suicide 39 by cancer39 by cancer 26 by homicide26 by homicide

MYTH: I don’t need my seat belt MYTH: I don’t need my seat belt because I have airbagsbecause I have airbags

FACT:FACT: Purpose of airbags Purpose of airbags Speed of airbagsSpeed of airbags In 2005, 964 Minnesotans In 2005, 964 Minnesotans

died or were injured whendied or were injured when

seat belts were not used and seat belts were not used and

an airbag deployed.an airbag deployed.

MYTH: It is my personal right to MYTH: It is my personal right to NOT wear a seat beltNOT wear a seat belt

FACT:FACT: Current Minnesota lawCurrent Minnesota law Who really pays the cost of unbelted occupants?Who really pays the cost of unbelted occupants? The effect of role-modeling on childrenThe effect of role-modeling on children

MYTH: Parents know how to use MYTH: Parents know how to use car seat!- Just buckle and go!!car seat!- Just buckle and go!!

Fact:Fact: Misuse rate of child restraints is 95-100%Misuse rate of child restraints is 95-100% Outdated seatsOutdated seats Garage Sale/Resale seatsGarage Sale/Resale seats Recalled SeatsRecalled Seats

MYTH: The Best place for my child MYTH: The Best place for my child is in my armsis in my arms

Fact: •No one can physically restrain a child in a crash

•A 40 lb. child in a 40 mph will experience 1600 lb of force on his/her body!!

MYTHS: As soon as an infant grows MYTHS: As soon as an infant grows out of a rear-facing seat turn them out of a rear-facing seat turn them

forward-facingforward-facing FACT:FACT:

Most crashes occur in Most crashes occur in the front of the vehiclethe front of the vehicle

Rear-facing allows the Rear-facing allows the back of the car seat to back of the car seat to take the force of the take the force of the crashcrash

Consider the physical Consider the physical complexity of the head, complexity of the head, neck and spinal cord of a neck and spinal cord of a childchild

MYTH: MYTH: As long as my child is in a car As long as my child is in a car seat or seat belt, it doesn’t matter where seat or seat belt, it doesn’t matter where

they sit in the vehiclethey sit in the vehicleFACT:FACT:

Where crashes are likely to occurWhere crashes are likely to occur Risks of front seat versus rear seatRisks of front seat versus rear seat Risks of outboard versus centerRisks of outboard versus center AirbagsAirbags

MYTH: MYTH: The faster a child graduates The faster a child graduates through car seats to a seat belt only – through car seats to a seat belt only – the safer they will be.the safer they will be.FACT: FACT: Seat belts are designed Seat belts are designed

for adultsfor adults Child restraints have Child restraints have

been tested and rated been tested and rated for childrenfor children

Child restraints are:Child restraints are: 71% effective for 71% effective for

infants infants 54% effective for 54% effective for

toddlerstoddlers

MYTH: It is okay for a child age 6 to MYTH: It is okay for a child age 6 to ride in a seat beltride in a seat belt

FACT:FACT: By law? Yes In reality? NoBy law? Yes In reality? No

6 Step test6 Step test 4 Feet 9 inches 4 Feet 9 inches

MYTH: Booster seats are for babiesMYTH: Booster seats are for babies

FACT:FACT: Seat belts were designed for adultsSeat belts were designed for adults

Children don’t fit a seat belt Children don’t fit a seat belt until at least 4’9” until at least 4’9”

Booster seats have been crash tested and Booster seats have been crash tested and lift the child up so that the belt fits lift the child up so that the belt fits properlyproperly

Booster seats should not be used for Booster seats should not be used for children under age 4children under age 4

Less than 20% of kids who should be in Less than 20% of kids who should be in

booster seats are actually using thembooster seats are actually using them

MYTH: No one in Minnesota MYTH: No one in Minnesota supports a booster seat law. No more supports a booster seat law. No more

government interference!government interference!FACT:FACT: In 2005, 73% of Minnesotans In 2005, 73% of Minnesotans

supported a booster seat law for supported a booster seat law for children 4-8 years oldchildren 4-8 years old

Approximately 30% of Minnesotans Approximately 30% of Minnesotans actually use a booster seat for their actually use a booster seat for their 4-8 year-olds4-8 year-olds

The current law is more than 25 The current law is more than 25 years-old, crafted long before years-old, crafted long before boosters were available and testedboosters were available and tested

JUST THE FACTSJUST THE FACTS

Fatality rates for motor vehicle occupant injuries are Fatality rates for motor vehicle occupant injuries are 3 times higher for American Indians/Alaska Native 3 times higher for American Indians/Alaska Native children than for white and black children. children than for white and black children.

limited access to emergency medical services, rural limited access to emergency medical services, rural residences, and low seat belt and car seat use decrease residences, and low seat belt and car seat use decrease the chances of surviving crashes.the chances of surviving crashes.

Without education and support from law enforcement Without education and support from law enforcement usage rates will not increaseusage rates will not increase By joining forces and combining resources we can work By joining forces and combining resources we can work

together to educate and enforce and protect together to educate and enforce and protect

PresentersPresenters

Jennifer Booge, CPS Instructor and Liaison to Jennifer Booge, CPS Instructor and Liaison to the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safetythe Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety mjbooge@unitelc.commjbooge@unitelc.com 218-732-7204218-732-7204

Patti Klicka, MN Dept. of Public SafetyPatti Klicka, MN Dept. of Public Safety