The Effects of Radio and Press Publicity on the Safe Carriage of Children in Cars

In April 1978 the Office of Road Safety conducted a press and radio publicity campaign aimed at increasing the fitting and use, by children, of conventional belts where child-restraints are not available and relocating children, particularly those unrestrained, from front to rear seats. Undertaken in States with and without child restraint legislation, the publicity campaign was evaluated using data from roadside observations of restraint fitting and use.

The campaign was not effective in achieving the desired behavioural changes. However, the results provided valuable data on the carriage of children in cars and highlighted the differences between States with or without child restraint legislation.