ABSTRACT
Motor vehicle collisions produce the largest number of injuries and deaths in childhood. Children aged 14 and younger account for over 125,000 injuries and over 1,500 deaths per year (National Safety Council, 1983). Professionals estimate that 70010 of the injuries and 90010 of the deaths could be pre-
vented or lessened if child passengers were buckled into appropriate safety devices (Richelderfer, 1976). Roberts and Turner (1984) reviewed the multitude of efforts to increase usage of safety seats and seat belts. Despite these efforts, actual usage of safety devices remains considerably below the ideal. Even with the most intensive effort and increased enforcement of the more recent state laws, general usage of safety seats ranges from 100;0 to 30% (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1984; Decker, Dewey, Hutcheson, & Schaffner, 1984; Reagan, 1984; Roberts, Williams, Johnson, & Robinson, 1985). Clearly, more effective methods are needed to increase this healthpromoting activity.
