Guiding the way: how resources and information sources influence appropriate child restraint use

Introduction: This study examined the resources and information sources Australian parents and caregivers used for child occupant safety, focusing on their influence on appropriate restraint use for children 12 years and younger. Method: An online survey was conducted with 1853 participants, gathering data on socio-demographic characteristics, driving habits, crash and infringement history, and details of their children's restraint use. Results: 77.2% of parents/carers reported their children were appropriately restrained, with younger children (3 years and younger) more likely to be appropriately restrained than older children (7–12 years). Factors associated with parent/carer reported appropriate restraint use included being older (45+ years), female, higher education levels, higher household income, daily driving, regular seatbelt use, and fewer recent crashes or traffic infringements. The most common information sources were or vehicle manuals (97.0%), child restraint fitters/fitting stations (51.2%), online resources (47.0%), and advice from family and friends (44.3%). Conclusions: This study reveals low rates of parent/carer reported appropriate child restraint use (77.2%) among Australian caregivers, influenced by demographics and information sources. High reliance on CRS manuals, fitting stations, and online resources highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve child safety and inform stakeholder policies.