Awarded Research Cooperative Agreement to Prevent Unintentional Injuries

Description

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has been contracted by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) to gather baseline booster seat use data to help tailor community interventions.

Researchers will determine the booster seat use rate in Michigan and parents’ perceptions about barriers to implementation and perceived benefits of booster seat interventions. This study is the first of its kind in Michigan and will provide guidance to other states for developing similar interventions.

A statewide passenger safety coalition has been formed to assist MDCH in developing community-based interventions to reduce motor vehicle-related injuries to children. The coalition will also support efforts to strengthen Michigan’s child passenger safety law. UMTRI will produce a technical report of its research findings that MDCH will disseminate to its partners, including the CPS Coalition, SAFE KIDS coalitions and chapters, the Governer’s Highway Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, and to others upon request.