michael bauer, msm.s. stephanie willing, m.p.h. …...using seatbelts in the backseat saves lives,...
TRANSCRIPT
Michael Bauer M SMichael Bauer, M.S.Stephanie Willing, M.P.H.
Sarah Sperry M SSarah Sperry, M.S.
New York State Department of HealthpInjury Prevention Program
IntroThe New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Injury Prevention Program (IPP) is the lead agency for the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation lead agency for the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) and Child Injury Policy Subgroup (CIPS).( )The IPP receives Federal grant funds through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the NY State Highway Safety Office to conduct the workgroupsworkgroups.
NYS Vehicle Safety Restraint LawsNew York State laws require:New York State laws require:
Children ages 0‐7 years to be restrained in the appropriate child restraint system and children ages 8‐15 pp p y g 5years to use a seatbelt.
These laws do not specify a seating position.
A 6 d ld i d t tb lt i th Ages 16 and older are required to use a seatbelt in the front seat. (Primary law)
No seatbelt requirement when riding in the back seat.
Closing the Gap
Pending legislation addresses the gap in the motor vehicle lawvehicle law.It seeks to extend coverage to all back seat passengers, regardless of age.g gFailed past legislative sessions.
h i O S?What is CODES?
NYS CODES matches police and motorist crash report data to hospitalization, emergency department, and emergency medical services data.The CODES database provides medical and financial
t i f ti b t i j i th t d outcome information about injuries that occurred as a result of motor vehicle crashes. The CODES database is used to conduct studies that The CODES database is used to conduct studies that examine the incidence, risk factors, and societal costs for traffic crashes and injuries.
B k t O t I j iBackseat Occupant InjuriesIn New York, during 2009,g
1,567 back seat occupants ages 16 and older involved in motor vehicle crashes who did not wear a seatbelt were treated in a hospital for their injuriestreated in a hospital for their injuries.Among all back seat passengers ages 16 and older involved in motor vehicle crashes unrestrained passengers were:
Almost three times more likely to require hospitalization then those who buckled upthose who buckled up.More than twice as likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury.
NYS CODES P t /Ad i B dNYS CODES Partners/Advisory BoardNYSDOH, Injury Prevention ProgramNYSDOH, Injury Prevention ProgramNYSDOH, Bureau of Emergency Medical ServicesNYSDMV, Bureau of Program Analysis and Data g yServicesGovernor’s Traffic Safety Committee (NYS Highway Safety Office)Safety Office)Traffic Records Coordinating CommitteeNYS Association of Traffic Safety BoardsyThe Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research
Partnership with the NYS HighwayPartnership with the NYS Highway Safety Officey
In 2010 and 2011 the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) requested CODES data to assist Committee (GTSC) requested CODES data to assist with their efforts to support legislation to require back seat safety belt use for persons aged 16 years and older.
A fact sheet on injuries sustained to passengers aged 16 d ld idi i h b k f hi l and older riding in the back seat of a motor vehicle
during a crash was developed.
Using Seatbelts in the Backseat Saves Lives,Using Seatbelts in the Backseat Saves Lives, Reduces Injuries and Saves Money!
NHTSA reports that wearing a lap and shoulder seat belt in the backseat is 44% more p g peffective in reducing crash fatalities compared with unrestrained occupants in passenger cars and 73% more effective in passenger vans and sport‐utility vehicles.
In 2009, everyday, an average of eight New Yorkers aged 16 and older who did not wear b l h l d h b k d f f h da seatbelt while riding in the backseat, were injured, four of whom sustained injuries
serious enough to require hospital treatment.
In 2009, 1,567 New Yorkers aged 16 and older who did not wear a seatbelt while riding in the backseat ere treated at a hospital for their injuries the backseat were treated at a hospital for their injuries.
Treatment of these injuries resulted in over $11 million in emergency department and hospitalization charges.
Over 7% of the hospitalization and ED charges were charged to public funds.
Among backseat‐passengers aged 16 and older who were involved in a motor vehicle Among backseat passengers aged 16 and older who were involved in a motor vehicle crash, the unrestrained were almost three times more likely to require hospitalization than those that buckled up. The resulting average hospital charge is over $11,000 higher for those unrestrained.
Unrestrained back seat passengers aged 16 and older involved in a motor vehicle crash are more than twice as likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury compared to those wearing a seatbelt.
C CODES A i i iCurrent CODES Activities
• Updated the fact sheet for the 2012 legislative session. • Provided the fact sheet to motor vehicle policy advocates across the state for educational activities.• Again, it was included in the NYSDMV’s legislative liaison's educational packetliaison s educational packet.
• Distributed to CIPS members.
C di d A hCoordinated ApproachThe CIPS and CODES both lead b the IPP ha e • The CIPS and CODES, both lead by the IPP, have overlapping:• PartnersPartners
• Primarily the NYSDMV, GTSC, Traffic Safety Professionals
• Priorities• Back seat safety belt use.• Children ages 12 and younger riding properly restrained in the back seat only.y
CIPSThe CIPS formed in 2009 is a subgroup of the larger NYS The CIPS, formed in 2009, is a subgroup of the larger NYS Injury Community Planning Group. Over 20 organizations are represented, including:
Columbia UniversityNYS Association of Traffic Safety BoardsNYS Department of Motor VehiclesNYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (the State Highway Safety Office)NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control
f dNYS Safe KidsNorth Shore LIJ Health SystemUniversity at Albany, School of Public Health
CIPS Projects• The CIPS has identified the following policy priority areas:
B k f b l ( dd d A )• Back seat safety belt use (added August 2011);• Children ages 12 and younger riding properly restrained in the back seat only (added August 2011); andin the back seat only (added August 2011); and
• Novelty (toy‐like) lighters.
CIPS ActivitiesMembers communicate regularl about the status of • Members communicate regularly about the status of pending legislation.
• First in‐person meeting of the expanded CIPS held on First in person meeting of the expanded CIPS held on February 23, 2012.• Provided the fact sheet and other materials to CIPS members for their education initiatives.
• Planned activities to be included in the five‐year action planplan.
• Advocates expressed a need for immediate action in regards to advancing the bill.
CIPS Member Activities Outside of the IPP/CIPSCIPS Member Activities Outside of the IPP/CIPSTo: New York State Child passenger safety techniciansDate: March 19, 2012Re: Pass Senate Bill 1337
Senate Bill 1337 amends New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law to require all persons over the age of 16 years to wear a safety belt while riding in the back seat of a motor vehicle.
We need you to contact your State Senator now and urge them to pass S1337.
The NYS Assembly has already passed this bill and just last week the Senate Transportation Committee approved S1337, y y p j p pp 337,which means the full Senate can now approve this legislation and if signed by Governor Cuomo, the bill will become law.
Please take the following steps:Go to http://www.nysenate.gov/senators ‐ enter your address with zip code to find out who your State Senator is and find their Albany contact information.
You can call their office (use their Albany phone number – ask for the Chief of Staff or someone who works on legislation) or send them a letter (see attached for a sample (hand written letters are most effective) or send an email (least effective means of contact).
Here are a few points to highlight:
Unbelted rear seat passengers can kill and injure others
In 2009, everyday, an average of 8 New Yorkers aged 16 and older who did not wear a seatbelt while riding in the backseat, were injured, four of whom sustained injuries serious enough to require hospital treatment
Nineteen other states have universal seat belt lawsNineteen other states have universal seat belt laws
Ask your Senator to support S 1337 and make sure that is brought to the Senate floor to a full vote.
sw1
Slide 15
sw1 These letters were planned activities conducted by members of the CIPS who can legally engage in lobbying activities. Those organizations include NYS Safe Kids, the NYS Coalition for Transportation Safety, the NYS Association of Traffic Safety Boards, and the Trauama Nurses Association.sxw15, 4/25/2012
CIPS Member Activities Outside of the IPP/CIPSCIPS Member Activities Outside of the IPP/CIPSPlease pass Senate Bill S 1337 – Adult rear‐seat passengers required to wear a seat belt.
Dear Senator:
I urge you to support Senate Bill S 1337 which amends New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law to require all persons over the age of 16 years to wear a safety belt while riding in the back seat of a motor vehicle. Research shows that using safety belts in the back seat saves lives, reduces injuries, and saves money.
Extensive research has shown that unbelted rear seat passengers can kill and injure others. A sixty pound unbelted passenger traveling in the rear seat would exert a force of approximately 2,700 pounds, or more than one ton, into the driver's seat in a head‐on crash at 30 miles per hour. In 2009, everyday, an average of eight New Yorkers aged 16 and older who did not wear a seatbelt while riding in the backseat, were injured, four of whom sustained injuries serious enough to require hospital treatment. Among backseat‐passengers aged 16 and older who were involved in a motor vehicle crash, the unrestrained were almost three times more likely to require hospitalization than those that buckled up. The resulting average hospital charge is over $11 000 higher for those unrestrainedaverage hospital charge is over $11,000 higher for those unrestrained.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that wearing a lap and shoulder seat belt in the backseat is 44% more effective in reducing crash fatalities compared with unrestrained occupants in passenger cars and 73% more effective in passenger vans and sport‐utility vehicles.
We know that strong occupant protection laws that are consistently enforced are one of the best ways to prevent injuries and save lives. If the bill mentioned above (S 1337) is enacted into law, it would close a significant gap in New York’s occupant protection law.
The Senate Transportation Committee has approved this legislation and I ask you to make sure that S1337 is b h h S fl f f ll brought to the Senate floor for a full vote.
Thank you in advance for your support of this important legislation.
Sincerely,
Timeline
3/15/12 Final vote TBD
3/12/12Passed Senate
3/15/12Advanced to 3rdReading
2/23/12CIPS meeting
Transportation Committee
1/31/12P d A bl
1/4/12Referred to Senate Transportation
Passed Assembly
Transportation Committee
ConclusionsThrough the CODES/CIPS partnerships, the IPP has successfully brought together stakeholders with a similar interest in injury preventionsimilar interest in injury prevention.Educational materials, in particular, a fact sheet on the safety benefits of riding restrained in the back seat safety benefits of riding restrained in the back seat were disseminated to our partners.Our partners used the materials in their own efforts to peducate decision makers on the benefits of safety belt use while riding in the back seat.
