Case Study: The Texas Department Of Transportation's Traffic Safety Program

We want to obtain a grant through the Texas Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Program (Texas Department of Transportation [TxDOT], n.d.-b). to expand booster seat use in the Hispanic population. We chose the Traffic Safety Program because it aligns with our public health intervention; the department of transportation specifically recommends that children use booster seats until the seat belt fits properly (TxDOT, n.d.-c). This organization was selected since the target population resides in Texas and would support expanding awareness on the importance of booster seats. The program already had a public health campaign called “Save me with a Seat” which involved posters and infomercials expanding booster seat awareness (TxDoT, n.d.-a).
2010). The reason why driving under the influence is a contributory cause for injury and death in children is because vehicle crashes are more likely to occur with drivers under the influence (Lenne et al., 2010). It was found that children 4-8 years old that rode in booster seats were 45% less likely to obtain injuries than those that simply wore a standard vehicle seat belt (Arbogast, Jermakian, Kallan, & Durbin, 2009). This suggests that improper seat belt use for children ages 4-8 can lead to significantly higher rates of injury. This holds important implications in the 5 to 14 year old population because older children (8 to 14 year olds) who are still too small from the seat belt will still benefit from a booster seat because improperly positioned seat belts, seat belts on the abdomen, can sink in and injury a child’s inner organs and spinal cord (Kuska, 2011). Booster seats protect children by giving children a shorter seat pan so that their knees bend naturally at the edge of the vehicle seat which keeps the lap belt properly positioned on the hips (Kuska, 2011). The AAP recommends that children ride in a booster seat until 4’ 9” tall (AAP, 2011). According to growth charts, an average male child will reach this height when they are 11 years old (CDC, 2001). This means that about half of 11-year-old males will not be tall enough to use a seat belt alone. Using growth charts (CDC, 2011), fewer than 3% of 8 year olds will be 4’ 9” tall at their 8th birthday. Data on booster seat use shows that as a child ages, they are less likely to use a booster seat (U.S. DoT, 2013). For example, in 2011, 49% of 4-5 year olds compared to only 43% of 6 to 7 year olds rode in booster seats (U.S. DoT, 2013). This