Tweens at risk: Examining car safety practices in four economically disadvantaged urban elementary schools in Virginia

• Multiple methods revealed low rates of occupant protection among low-income tweens.
• 58% of tweens reported wearing their seat belts “not very much at all” or “never”.
• 65% of tweens observed were unrestrained.
• 48% of tweens reported usually sitting in the front seat, or front and back equally.
• 60% of tweens observed were in the front seat.

IntroductionChildren aged 8- to 12-years-old (“tweens”) are at high risk for crash injury, and motor vehicle crashes are their leading cause of death.MethodData are presented from behavioral observations (N = 243), surveys (N = 677), and focus groups (N = 26) conducted with tweens attending four urban elementary schools in Virginia. The populations assessed were predominantly Black (77.9%) and economically disadvantaged (61.9%).ResultsFocus groups revealed a number of inconsistencies in and misconceptions about safety practices. Among the 677 tweens who completed anonymous surveys, the majority (58.1%) reported wearing their seat belts “not very much at all” or “never.” Many students (47.8%) reported usually sitting in the front seat or sitting in the front and back seats equally. This is despite the fact that most (92.0%) knew that the back seat was the safest place to sit. Of the 243 tweens observed in vehicles, 65.0% were unrestrained and 60.1% were seated in the front passenger seat.Impact on IndustryFindings of this study shed light on the great disparity between the national rates for child safety practices and those of children living in an economically disadvantaged urban school district. Additional intervention programs that are culturally appropriate and specifically target this age group are needed.