Researcher: Katie Womack

Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation

At the beginning of each school year, parents and young students are typically given a plethora of rules or guidelines for a wide range of situations, including: how to behave in class, how to safely participate in science lab, expected behavior on field trips, a dress code, an attendance policy, bus riding procedures, etc. Following this model, CTS researchers worked with administrators from two school districts to deploy recommendations for riding safely to and from school in automobiles. The objective was to have materials sent out to parents in whatever form the school found acceptable, clearly stating the increased safety benefits of riding in the back seat properly safety belted for this particular age group, and encouraging parents to have their children do so. In addition to this effort, CTS researchers also provide independent data collection to evaluate the Dallas Tweens Safe and Secure traffic safety program. Eleven schools in the Dallas area are surveyed quarterly. Data is collected on occupant restraint use, focusing on children ages 7 through 13, and on booster seat use.

For more information contact Katie Womack.