1. 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

2. Overview  Traffic Safety Foundation - Programs  Child Passenger Safety Program  BC’s Booster Seat Challenge Child Passenger Safety

3. 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

4. BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation Programs  School Safety Patrol  Child Passenger Safety  Young Drivers  Mature Drivers Family focused road safety programs Child Passenger Safety

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

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

7. Child Passenger Safety (cont’)  Tethers not used - correctly  Seats not secured to vehicle  Harness / Seat belts / UAS  too loose  not slotted correctly Child Passenger Safety

8. Child Passenger Safety (cont’)  No booster seat legislation in BC  Significant reductions in infant / child and adult injuries and deaths  Not same picture with 4 – 10 yr. olds Child Passenger Safety

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

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

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

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

13. Child Seat Inspection Clinic  FREE - Mobile service  Mostly at BCAA locations  Inspection not Installation service  Scheduled by appointment  1.877.247.5551  3,500 people annually Child Passenger Safety

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

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

16. Police Training and Collaboration  Specialized Enforcement Training  ½ day with enforcement activity  Crash Analysts  Counter Attack – Road Checks  School – Shopping Mall Spot Checks  Child Seat Usage Survey / Study Child Passenger Safety

17. Information Sessions  2 hour – 1 Day  Parent Groups (new parents / pre-schools)  Child care workers (foster care / victim services  Health Fairs (immunization clinics / baby fairs)  Public Health  Others Child Passenger Safety

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

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

20. Child Occupant Restraint  Rating individual seating location  According to occupant type  Infant / child / booster / adult  Publish findings  Vancouver Province  Website – www.bcaatsf.cawww.bcaatsf.ca  Good / Could Improve / Poor Child Passenger Safety

21. Child Occupant Restraint Child Passenger Safety

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

23. Booster Seat Challenge (cont’)  Child Death Rate from Car Crashes  Significant reduction for children under 5 & over 10 52% & 25% between ’97 & ’01  No change for children between 5 & 9 years Child Passenger Safety

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

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

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

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

28. Current Situation – in BC  No booster seat laws in BC  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

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

30. 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

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

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

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

35. Public Education  Primary target  Kindergarten / Gr. 1 children and parents  Secondary targets  Pre-school & Gr. 2 / 3 and parent Child Passenger Safety

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

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

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

39. Child Passenger Safety

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

41. Other Boost BC Materials French Child Passenger Safety

42. Chinese Child Passenger Safety

43. Punjabi Child Passenger Safety

44. Posters Child Passenger Safety

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

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

47. Iain Black, MLA Child Passenger Safety 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

48. 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

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

50. 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

51. 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 Boost BC Child Passenger Safety

52. Contact Information Child Seat Information Line1.877.247.5551 Websitewww.childseatinfo.cawww.childseatinfo.ca David Dunne, Director – Provincial Programs –604.297.2152 Marg Deibert, CPS Program Coordinator / Senior CPS Instructor –1.877.247.5551 Boost BC Child Passenger Safety

53. Questions Child Passenger Safety