Whit's public policy paper

In the recent years there has been much attention to the way Americans travel in vehicles with their children. Endless commercials, radio and television, service announcements remind us all to buckle up. The “Click it, or Ticket!” campaign has been one of the most successful movements in the past years. When it comes to our children, we are even further concerned for their safety, as automobile accidents are going to effect us all at some point in our lives. As the years have passed the laws and opinion have changed about the best way to restrain a child while in the car. The new policies, new trends, and media attention to this issue has become a key component in the public policy of this issue.
It used to be that simple child locks (the locks used so that the door to the vehicle may not be opened from the inside) was enough. However, this opinion has changed drastically. Looking back we can see that simply not allowing out children to open the doors from the inside wouldn’t keep them any safer while in a crash. If anything it prevented a child from exiting a vehicle after the crash. It was soon obvious that seat belts were necessary. However, the small size of a child had to be compensated for. Also, the airbags in the front seat caused many problems since their force was so intense, that it was deadening to a child. A new policy about safety restraints would have to be developed to protect our children, and ourselves. The new market opened for car seats has become successful playing mostly on the lack of knowledge in the area.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been working hard in the last few years to make the policies for child restrains a widely known topic and educate the America public about the issue. In December of 2003, Anton’s law was passed which set specific requirements for the booster seats needed for children four to eight. The passing of this law was a major step in the public policy regarding this issue.
Anton's Law directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a rulemaking to establish performance requirements for child restraints, including booster seats, for the restraint of children weighing more than 50 pounds... This legislation requires automakers to install lap and shoulder belt assemblies in all rear seating positions of passenger cars, including the center seat position.
Anton’s Law while still be implemented today has aided in the effort to make traveling in vehicle’s more safe for children. Numerous other laws have followed Anton’s Law since it was passed. These laws have served in the attempt to change Americans minds about child safety. Creating more awareness about the new options to keep a child safe in the car was the primary focus, besides the attempt to save more children. For example, “Child safety seats saved the lives of 158 children aged 0-4 during 1984. Lap belts saved an additional 34 lives. In all, 192 children were saved by child passenger safety measures in 1984.” Thus far, it seems to be working in the right direction.
With the changing legislation on this issue, the economic market has changed also. With the new requirements for child car seats and booster seats, a whole new line is available. These are obtainable at almost any baby store, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. across the country. The range in prices is outrageous, but the basic design is all the same. Since the use of these seats is now required, designers and manufacturers are creating millions in revenue. Although, “A higher price does not mean the seat is safer or easier to use. All car safety seats available for sale in the United States must meet government safety standards.” These standards work in effort to ensure design and trends are not the only factors in a parent’s decision. Rather safety and functionality are the primary focus. The trends following this new booming industry are baffling. One can stand at a “Babys’R’us” store for hours debating and attempting to find which seat might be right for them. The choices are endless. However, the goals are all the same.
The media attention to this issue has also powered much of the policy changes. No one can forget when Britney Spears was photographed driving with her infant on her lap. This sent a whirlwind of attention to the proper uses of the child seat, much of which has changed in the last years, only causing more confusion about which way a child is really supposed to sit in the car, or in which seat exactly. Many talk shows have also gone over this topic feeling they should inform Americans to the correct uses. Through the use of celebrities and the media, this issue has spread to infiltrate the lives of those who don’t even have children.
In recent years there has been quite a bit of confusion about the correct way in which to travel with children, in a vehicle. There are numerous informational websites about the best way. The websites offer advice such as:
Always use a car safety seat. Start with your baby's first ride home from the hospital, never place a child in a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger air bag, all children younger than 13 years are safest in the back seat. Be a good role model—always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up; remember that each car safety seat is different. read and keep the instructions that came with your seat handy, and follow them at all times, read your car owner's manual for information about installing your car safety seat.
However much advice is offered however, no one but a parent can be responsible for the safety of their child while they are driving. Perhaps it is part of becoming a parent that makes one truly focus on the safety issues of children in vehicles.
Americans are continually concerned with the safety in our vehicles and the safety of our families. Placing the two in the same category, creates extra interest in the topic. Therefore, the new public policies that affect every parent in America are changing or rather saving lives. The new policies have shown to save more lives in the past few years than in the past few decades. The new laws are being implemented all over the United States and are making wonderful progress. While there are many laws concerning the safety of adults in the car, these unique laws focus solely on the children’s safety and hold the adults responsible.













References


"Child Passenger Safety." NHSTA: Laws and Regulations. 2007. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 19 Jun 2007 .

"Child Safety in Passenger Vehicles." Public Citizen: Protecting Health Safety and Democracy. 2007. Public Citizen. 19 Jun 2007 .

"Federal Legislative Program." Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. 2001. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. 19 Jun 2007 .

GovTrack.us. S. 980--107th Congress (2001): Anton's Law, GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation) (accessed Jun 17, 2007)