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A study of injury patterns of older children (aged 6-12 years) indicates that they may deserve more attention from automotive safety researchers. Although older children represent 43.1% of child occupants involved in accidents taken from the National Accident Sampling System (NASS) database, they receive 55.4% of the injuries suffered by children. A lower restraint usage rate (56.2% compared to 63.4% for younger children) partly accounts for this disproportionate amount of injury. However, when restrained, fewer older children remain uninjured compared to younger children (62.8% vs. 70.8%). The number of older children receiving injuries decreases with restraint use (63.6% injured for unrestrained vs. 37.5% injured for restrained). When comparing injuries to restrained and unrestrained older children, the injuries are generally the same severities, but restraints lead to higher proportions of pelvis/abdomen injuries while reducing the occurrence of whole body injuries.

This paper describes results from a survey of older children with respect to vehicle and booster restraints. The work first consisted of a rudimentary anthropometry study of 155 volunteers aged between 7 and 12 years. The data were compared to an extensive child anthropometry study conducted by the University of Michigan in 1975. Height and sitting height data matched well, while children in the current study appeared heavier. In the restraint fit survey, each child sat in the rear seat alone and in three belt-positioning booster seats (Volvo, Kangaroo, Century CR-3) in three vehicles (Ford Taurus, Pontiac Sunbird, Dodge Caravan). Booster seats greatly improved belt fit over the rear seat alone. The majority of children in this study had better belt fit with the boosters than with the rear seat alone, regardless of size. However, children who could fit well in the boosters and had good or fair belt fits were generally 36 kg or less.

A detailed understanding of the size, shape, and postures of children is required to design effective restraint systems for protecting children in motor vehicle crashes. Compiled and edited by experts in the fields of anthropometry, ergonomics, and child restraint, this book includes 14 important papers which provide a comprehensive overview of the methods for collecting, analyzing, and applying child anthropometry data for crash safety purposes. A detailed understanding of the size, shape, and postures of children is required to design effective restraint systems for protecting children in motor vehicle crashes. Compiled and edited by experts in the fields of anthropometry, ergonomics, and child restraint, this book includes 14 important papers which provide a comprehensive overview of the methods for collecting, analyzing, and applying child anthropometry data for crash safety purposes.