MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING ANB45 Occupant Protection Committee Meeting Monday, January 12, 2009 8 a.m. - Noon 1.

Attendance – Betty Mercer, Committee Chair (Mercer Consulting Group, LLC); JoAnn Wells, Committee Secretary (IIHS); Rick Pain (TRB Staff) Members: Lawrence Decina (Transanalytics,LLC); Bella Dinh-Zarr (Make Roads Safe); David Eby (UMTRI); Yoassry Elzohairy (Ontario Ministry of Transportation); Ian Faulks(Safety and Policy International); Irwin Goldzweig(Meharry Medical College); Bill Hall(UNC); Barbara Harsha(GHSA); Phil Haseltine (Haseltine Safety Consulting ,LLC); Brian Jonah(Traffic Injury Research Foundation); Christina Mullen (Toyota); Mehdi Nassirpour (Illinois Department of Transportation); Jim Nichols (Nichols and Associates); Jacqueline Simmons (Safe Kids Worldwide); Vinod Vasudevan (University of Nevada Transportation Research Center); Bob Wall (Safe Kids Worldwide); Elaine Weinstein(TRB); Charles Wright (Florida A&M University); Stephanie Davis(NTSB); FRIENDS: Eleanor Walters(Clemson University); Jim Bean(NHTSA); Phil Gulak(NHTSA); Neil Chaudhary (PRG Inc.); Kimberly Vachal (North Dakota State University); Danielle Roeber (NTSB); Sandy Sinclair (NHTSA); Leanna Depue (MO DOT); Philip Weiser (NHTSA Region 1); Raphael Grzebieta (IRMRC); Charlie Vits (IMMI/Safeguard); Dee Jackson (Florida A&M University); Carole Guzzetta (NHTSA); Jana Price (NTSB); Jane Stutts (UNC); Adele Polson (WESTAT); John Siegler (NHTSA); Linda Cosgrove (NHTSA); Emily BurkHardt (WESTAT);

2. Agenda - see attached. 3. General Items for the Record: a. Minutes: The minutes of the August 11-12, 2008 Mid-year meeting were reviewed and approved by the Committee. b. TRB Updates: Although global and national budgets are strained, attendance at TRB was only slightly down. The 2010 emphasis is: investing in the transportation future with bold ideas to meet the constant challenge of diminishing funding. 4. Committee Program: a. Preview of 2009 TRB Workshop Sessions: Speakers for Session 605, Promising Strategies for Increasing Seatbelt Use, Session 645, Occupant Protection for Children: Issues and Trends and Session 694 Motor Coach and School Bus Safety gave snapshots of their presentations. Session 694 was sponsored by the ANB45 Occupant Protection Committee, the ANB70 Truck and Bus Safety Committee and the ANB10 (6) School Transportation Subcommittee. b. Presentations (3) – emphasis on seat belt use in selected populations: Mehdi Nassirpour reported on the positive results of Illinois’ recent Click It or Ticket mobilization with a focus in Chicago which including night time seat belt and alcohol enforcement. Irwin Goldzweig, Director, Meharry-State Farm Alliance, gave a summary of their high school programs (service learning) that is designed to increase teen seat belt use among diverse groups using an educational peer to peer approach. While acknowledging the effectiveness of enforcement programs, this approach recognizes the lack of enforcement resources and attempts to http://anb45.hsrc.unc.edu/ 1

supplement traditional programs. Ian Faulks gave a brief summary of the ‘safe system approach’ to traffic safety and occupant protection in Australia. The presentations are available on the Committee web site:http://anb45.hsrc.unc.edu/ c. Other topics: There is considerable interest in both night time enforcement and other strategies to increase seat belt use. Linda Cosgrove, Phil Gulak and John Siegler shared information regarding current NHTSA research: the protocol for conducting night time seat belt surveys, a night time enforcement protocol and also a possible best practices guide for night time enforcement. Charles Wright shared a program he is working on with youth at the university. Other work is taking place, including NHTSA demonstration projects and the Meharry program shared during the meeting, to identify strategies for increasing belt use among low use groups. Vehicle technology is a promising strategy. Christina Mullen pointed out that manufacturers need information on part time belt users so they know how to design effective technology. On a longer term basis, the topic of part time and low belt users may be developed by the Committee into a forum or symposium, possibly a joint effort with the Alcohol Committee. 5. Committee Business a. Committee Web site: Thanks to Bill Hall at UNC, our website: http://anb45.hsrc.unc.edu/ is being reviewed and updated in a timely manner. Chairperson Betty Mercer is developing a list of past sessions sponsored by the Committee to give a historic perspective and it will be posted in the near future. b. Research Needs Database: Larry Decina is continuing as the Committee’s manager of the research needs database process. Larry needs everyone’s continuing support to add new ideas, remove outdated statements and monitor ongoing contracts awarded so that these can be removed from the list. New ideas can be submitted to Larry in proposal form using the standard TRB template. The proposals will be circulated to the Committee for comment. Larry Decina, David Eby and Ian Faulks volunteered to draft a needs statement on child restraint issues for consideration. Brian Jonah suggested that the characteristics of the part time seat belt user may be another research need and will consider submitting a statement. David Eby mentioned a five year study in this area being conducted by UMTRI with Alan Block as the COTR which began with a literature review which is available now (David will send the link.) c. Paper Review: Sharon Levi has agreed continue to manage the Committee’s paper review process with the provision that she be replaced at the end of the 2009 process. Sharon has done an outstanding job and the Committee has put out a call for volunteers to take on this important task. The Committee received only 4 papers this year and none of them was accepted. We need to think of ways to generate additional papers. Bella Dinh-Zarr volunteered to do some outreach for the Committee with the APHA because they have similar research needs. This could result in more papers, more friends of the Committee and potential research funding. d. Committee’s Strategic Priorities: There was a discussion of the strategic priorities recently drafted at the 2008 Mid year meeting especially the terminology of non vs. part time seat belt user. ADDED LATER: Using the input provided, the Chair has revised the strategic priorities and a copy is attached. The Committee would like to sponsor a Webinar on night time seat belt enforcement in the manner of a “How To” with best practices and http://anb45.hsrc.unc.edu/

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enforcement procedures. The suggestion is that Dr. Jim Nichols take the lead due to his interest and background in this issue. e. Proposed Topics for Mid year Meeting or 2010 Conference Sessions: • Bella Dinh-Zarr and Brian Jonah suggested a session focusing on the work being done in developing countries to increase belt use, possibly ‘a how to seat belt guide’, a look at their results and what lessons can be learned. • The results of the Washington State night time enforcement demonstration project should be received by NHTSA in March 2009. This will include information on the characteristics of non belt users. • Linda Cosgrove mentioned NHTSA’s special population focus as well as the NHTSA demonstration projects. • Phil Haseltine is working with the EMS community on transporting children in emergency vehicles. This project could develop into a possible session in a couple of years. • Bill Hall suggested the new rules on seat belts in school buses and school transportation in general. • Charles Wright and Phil Haseltine offered the idea of a session on developing strategies for secondary belt law States such as, local ordinances currently being studied in Missouri. This would also provide an opportunity to continue the discussion on addressing diverse populations. • An update from NHTSA on current and ongoing occupant protection research. • For 2011, the evaluation of the Meharry service learning project combined with enforcement and its implementation in 6 urban Nashville schools should be available. 6. Other Business: • Professor Raphael Grzebieta, Chair of Road Safety, University of New South Wales made a verbal proposal that a subcommittee be formed on rollover crashworthiness and occupant protection issues. He reported on interest from Europe and the U.S. Professor Grzebieta was asked to submit a written proposal for the Committee’s consideration. • Irwin Goldzweig offered to arrange for an article on the Committee to be included in the electronic Meharry/State Farm newsletter. Betty Mercer will provide a suggested article. • MID YEAR MEETING: The mid year meeting is scheduled for July 21-22, 2009 at the TRB Keck Center in Washington, D.C. (same location as last year). There would be no registration fee, thanks to TRB, and participants would be responsible for their own travel and lodging (TRB would assist with a room block). The dates will be confirmed with Rick Pain and a confirmation notice sent.

Respectfully submitted by: JoAnn Wells, Committee Secretary

http://anb45.hsrc.unc.edu/

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Transportation Research Board ANB45 Occupant Protection Committee Meeting Monday, January 12, 2009 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Marriott, Washington B5 Committee Scope: The Occupant Protection Committee monitors, synthesizes, encourages and disseminates research activities related to the science of occupant protection, in all modes of transportation and around the world, to promote an evolving research agenda that addresses current and future occupant protection priorities. Occupant protection priorities include restraint system performance and efficiency to optimize protection, including biomechanical issues, economic impact to society; and behavioral measures to increase restraint use such as enforcement and education.

AGENDA •

Self introductions

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Approve minutes from August 2008 mid-year meeting

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Review Committee membership list – introduce new members

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Research Needs Database ⇒

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Paper Review Update ⇒

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Larry Decina, TransAnalytics, LLC

Sharon Levi - Beterem- The National Center for Children's Health and Safety, Israel

Preview of 2009 TRB Workshop sessions (5 minutes each) ⇒ Occupant Protection for Children – Issues and Trends – William Hall, North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center ⇒

Promising Strategies for Increasing Seat Belt Use – Brian Jonah, Transport Canada

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Motor coach and School Bus Safety – Julie Perrot, National Transportation Safety Board

Special Emphasis Discussion-Addressing seat belt use in select populations (75 minutes) ⇒ Chicago, Illinois Click it or Ticket Campaign – Mehdi Nassirpour, Chief, Research and Evaluation, Division of Traffic Safety, Illinois (30) ⇒

Service Learning: A Model for Increasing Urban Teen Seat Belt Use - Irwin Goldzweig, Director, Meharry-State Farm Alliance (30)

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Occupant Protection in Australia and Challenges Arising from Safe Systems Approach – Ian Faulks, Safety and Policy Analysis International (10)

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Review of OP Committee Strategic Priorities and Possible Activities (e.g.) webinar

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2009 Mid Year Committee Meeting – Establish Date (July 21-22?) and discuss agenda

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Discussion of possible 2010 TRB Workshop sessions

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Other Issues – Open Discussion

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Adjourn

HANDOUTS (July 2008 mid-year meeting minutes, Committee Membership Roster)

http://anb45.hsrc.unc.edu/

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ANB045 Occupant Protection Committee 2008-09 Strategic Priorities

Overall Goal: Improve occupant protection to reduce motor vehicle related death and injuries

1. Increase Restraint Usage Child Restraint Use • What to name it - “car seat”, “car safety seat”, “child restraint” • Standardizing ‘misuse’ term • Ease of use clarification • LATCH weight clarification • Increasing usage Adult Use • Public Policy - Primary, comprehensive laws; higher fines, incentives, insurance points •

Target the Behavior of Part-time Seat Belt User and Low Seat Belt Use Groups – Messaging ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒

Post-booster age (pre-teens) Teens Diverse Populations Rural Pickup Truck Occupants Others

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Technology – Belt minders, interlocks tied to gearshifts, climate controls or entertainment options

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Night-Time Enforcement (combined with impaired driving enforcement)

. 2. Improve Effectiveness of Vehicle Technologies to Protect Occupants • • • •

Special populations(older drivers) - biomechanics Improving vehicle technologies – pre-crash sensing, air belts, 4/5-point belts, air bags Improved vehicle to vehicle compatibility Improved vehicle–infrastructure compatibility

As amended at the January 12, 2009 OP Committee Meeting

http://anb45.hsrc.unc.edu/

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