Child Passenger Safety BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation Child

Child Passenger Safety BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation Child Passenger Safety Program BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit Speakers’ Series January 2007 David Dunne Director, Provincial Programs

Child Passenger Safety Overview Ø Traffic Safety Foundation - Programs Ø Child Passenger Safety Program Ø BC’s Booster Seat Challenge

Child Passenger Safety Partners in Road Safety BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation • • • Est. 2000 – by BCAA Registered Charity / Non-profit Organization One-stop road safety resources Collaboration and partnerships Work with families and communities Family Road Safety Solutions

Child Passenger Safety BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation Programs ØSchool Safety Patrol ØChild Passenger Safety ØYoung Drivers ØMature Drivers Family focused road safety programs

Child Passenger Safety Background / Current Reality Ø Leading cause of death and injury in BC / Canada Ø Over 50% of child seats used incorrectly Ø 18% booster seat use in BC Øless than 1 in 5 children

Child Passenger Safety (cont’) Common Issues… Ø Children graduating too quickly Ø Infants – forward facing too soon ØBefore 1 year of age Ø Children graduated to booster seats or seat belts – too soon Ø Children sitting in front seat (airbags)

Child Passenger Safety (cont’) ØTethers not used - correctly ØSeats not secured to vehicle ØHarness / Seat belts / UAS Øtoo loose Ønot slotted correctly

Child Passenger Safety (cont’) ØNo booster seat legislation in BC ØSignificant reductions in infant / child and adult injuries and deaths ØNot same picture with 4 – 10 yr. olds

Child Passenger Safety Program Ø Provincial Program Ø ICBC partnership Ø Operating over 5 yrs. Ø Resource for parents / organizations and communities Ø Building community capacity and support

Child Passenger Safety Program (cont’) Ø Child Seat Info Line Ø Child Seat Inspection Clinics Ø CPS Technician Training Ø Information Sessions Ø Website – www. childseatinfo. ca

Child Passenger Safety Program (cont’) Ø Police Training Ø Child Restraint Survey Ø Occupant Restraint Rating Ø Booster Seat Education

Child Passenger Safety Toll-Free Child Seat Information Line Ø Ø Ø 1 -877 -247 -5551 (BC) CPS Technicians available Monday – Friday / 9: 00 – 5: 00 Parents / care givers / professionals Information / support / booking inspection appointments Ø 13, 000+ calls annually

Child Passenger Safety Child Seat Inspection Clinic Ø Ø FREE - Mobile service Mostly at BCAA locations Inspection not Installation service Scheduled by appointment Ø 1. 877. 247. 5551 Ø 3, 500 people annually

Child Passenger Safety CPS Technician Training Courses Ø Ø Ø National Certification 2 -day courses Partner with Justice Institute For Child Seat Inspections Liability concerns 8 – 16 people per class

Child Passenger Safety CPS Specialized Training Courses Ø Retail - Toys ‘R’ Us Ø Public Health Ø Child Care Workers Ø Fire Fighters Ø Police

Child Passenger Safety Police Training and Collaboration Ø Specialized Enforcement Training ؽ day with enforcement activity Ø Crash Analysts Ø Counter Attack – Road Checks Ø School – Shopping Mall Spot Checks Ø Child Seat Usage Survey / Study

Child Passenger Safety Information Sessions Ø 2 hour – 1 Day ØParent Groups (new parents / pre-schools) ØChild care workers (foster care / victim services ØHealth Fairs (immunization clinics / baby fairs) ØPublic Health ØOthers

Child Passenger Safety Website – www. childseatinfo. ca Ø Comprehensive information Ø Details regarding all stages and types (infant / child / booster) Ø Regulations (Federal / Provincial) Ø Technical issues (LUAS / Recalls) Ø Fact sheets (all stages)

Child Passenger Safety Fact Sheets Ø Infant seats (birth to 1 year) Ø Child (over 1 yr to 40 - 48 lbs) Ø Booster Seats (over 40 lbs / 4’ 9” / 145 cm / approx. 4 – 9 yrs. ) Ø Seat belts (back seat / air bags) (over 9 yrs. ) Ø UAS (Universal Anchor System) Ø Seat belts and the law Ø Buying and installing child seats Ø Child Seat Info Line and Inspection Clinics

Child Passenger Safety Child Occupant Restraint Ø Rating individual seating location Ø According to occupant type ØInfant / child / booster / adult Ø Publish findings ØVancouver Province ØWebsite – www. bcaatsf. ca Ø Good / Could Improve / Poor

Child Passenger Safety Child Occupant Restraint

Child Passenger Safety Booster Seat Challenge ØCar Crashes – Leading cause of death among children in Canada Ø 2003 in BC - 955 children between 4 – 8 years seriously injured or killed in car crashes (ICBC)

Child Passenger Safety Booster Seat Challenge (cont’) ØChild Death Rate from Car Crashes ØSignificant reduction for children under 5 & over 10 • 52% & 25% between ’ 97 & ’ 01 ØNo change for children between 5 & 9 years

Child Passenger Safety Booster Seat Challenge (cont’) Ø Booster seats are effective – Reduce serious injuries – 60% – Prevent death Ø Very low usage rate in BC – 18% - 2004 Child Seat Survey (BC)

Child Passenger Safety Booster Seat Challenge (cont’) ØSeat belts are designed for adults ØMost children don’t reach seat belt age until about 9 years

Child Passenger Safety Without a Booster Seat Ø Common practice – Place shoulder belt behind back – Under arm – Slide forward to knees bend comfortably Ø Lap belt more likely to contact more vulnerable abdomen

Child Passenger Safety Results Ø Internal injuries – Vital organs lacerated, liver, spleen Ø Spinal cord injuries – Chance Fracture – Seatbelt Syndrome Ø Ejection – Submarine out from under lap belt Ø Head injuries – 4 times the risk of head injuries

Child Passenger Safety Current Situation – in BC Ø No booster seat laws in BC Ø In British Columbia – under 40 lbs required to be in an approved (CMVSS) child restraint – over 40 lbs required to be restrained only by pelvic restraint

Child Passenger Safety Current Situation (cont’) Ø Quebec – 1 st booster seat law Canada Ø Ontario and N. S. introduced booster seat legislation Ø Increasing number of US states have booster seat laws (over ½)

Child Passenger Safety Current Situation (cont’) • Three independent booster seat initiatives underway – Boost BC Public Education Campaign – Iain Black, MLA Port Moody / Westwood – Solicitor General / ICBC

Child Passenger Safety

Child Passenger Safety BC Booster Seat Campaign Ø Introduced - May 2004 Ø Re-Launched – September 2006 Ø BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation Ø Provincial scope Ø Ministry of Children and Family Development (Hon. Linda Reid)

Child Passenger Safety Campaign Objectives Ø Increase booster seat use in BC Ø Educate parents about need for booster seats Ø Make children more accepting of booster seats Ø Increase public support for booster seat legislation

Child Passenger Safety Media / Public Awareness Ø Sept 2006 – Boost BC media launch Ø Knowledge Network - Boost BC videos (3) - Airing – Fall / Winter – 06 / 07 Ø Public Service Announcements – TV / Radio / Print Ø Media relations – editorial coverage Ø BCAA Support Ø member survey / position paper

Child Passenger Safety Public Education Ø Primary target ØKindergarten / Gr. 1 children and parents Ø Secondary targets ØPre-school & Gr. 2 / 3 and parent

Child Passenger Safety Public Education Campaign Elements Ø Booster Club – kids Ø Media campaign (PSA) – parents and kids Ø Public events – parents and kids Ø School Strategy – kids and parents – In-class resources - kids – School district strategy - parents – Parent Advisory Council strategy – parents

Child Passenger Safety Booster Club for kids Ø Kindergarten and pre-school Ø Make seats more appealing Ø Change the social norms Ø Use kids to influence parents Ø Key element – Booster Club Certificate

Child Passenger Safety Booster Club Certificate – Front cover – age, min. weight, name, date – Inside spread - activity sheet (11” x 17”) – Back panel – message to parents Ø Distributed free Ø Used in pubic events and in-class Ø Placemat at local ‘family’ restaurant chain

Child Passenger Safety

Child Passenger Safety School Strategy ü In-class resources and lesson - TSF Technician conducts 1 hour lesson - Teacher delivers lesson / materials ü School District Booster Seat Policy – Children required to be properly restrained ü Parent Advisory Committee support – Education and communication to parents

Child Passenger Safety Other Boost BC Materials French

Child Passenger Safety Chinese

Child Passenger Safety Punjabi

Child Passenger Safety Posters

Child Passenger Safety Iain Black, MLA • May 15 th – Private Member’s Bill – 1 st step • Proposing changes to Motor Vehicle Regulations – 8 yr – 80 lbs (36 kg) • Media event with BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation • Follow up media activity

Child Passenger Safety Iain Black, MLA • Summer / Fall 2006 • Solicitor General asked ICBC to conduct a focused consultation process • Feedback from stakeholders / experts • Reported back to Minister - Fall 2006

Child Passenger Safety Iain Black, MLA • • • Learn more about the issue Feedback on proposed changes Raise public awareness and debate Build support among other MLA Report to Solicitor General and Cabinet

Child Passenger Safety Solicitor General / ICBC • Summer / Fall 2006 • Solicitor General asked ICBC to conduct a focused consultation process • Feedback from stakeholders / experts • Report back Fall 2006

Child Passenger Safety Solicitor General / ICBC • 2 Stage Process (overlapping timing) • Stage 1 - Feedback on draft regulatory changes – Booster Seats – Infant Seats – Exemptions

Child Passenger Safety Solicitor General / ICBC • Stage 2 – Implication for adopting regulatory changes • Key stakeholders – Government and non-government • Reported to Solicitor General – Fall 2006

Child Passenger Safety Boost BC Next Steps • Continue public education initiatives • Build public awareness and support • Await announcements resulting from Iain Black’s & ICBC’s reports to Solicitor General • Determine next steps based on decision of Government – regard possible changes to legislation and regulations

Child Passenger Safety Boost BC Contact Information • Child Seat Information Line 1. 877. 247. 5551 • Website www. childseatinfo. ca • David Dunne, Director – Provincial Programs – 604. 297. 2152 • Marg Deibert, CPS Program Coordinator / Senior CPS Instructor – 1. 877. 247. 5551

Child Passenger Safety Questions