UMTRI Project

Investigation of child restraint installation errors

Sponsor: NHTSA/VTTI
Investigators: Kathleen DeSantis Klinich, Miriam A. Manary, Carol Flannagan
09/01/2009 - 09/30/2010

This program performed three series of tests with volunteers to identify factors contributing to child restraint installation errors. The first phase studied ease-of-use features on convertible child restraint products, the second phase studied variations in child restraint labels and manuals, and the third phase examined vehicle features. Results demonstrated that child restraint features have a stronger effect than labels or manuals, and led to suggestions for revising the NHTSA child restraint ease-of-use assessment program.