Defining Serious Child Restraint System Errors: A Framework for Global Consensus and Intervention Prioritisation
Main Supervisor: Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel (MUARC)
Associate Supervisor: Professor Julie Brown (The George Institute for Global Health)
Incorrect or inappropriate use of child restraint systems (CRS) remains a major contributor to preventable injury and death among children in vehicles, despite decades of legislation and public education. Yet, the severity of CRS misuse varies widely - and no internationally agreed definition of what constitutes a "serious" error currently exists. This PhD project addresses that critical gap by applying a public health framework to develop a standardised, evidence-informed typology of serious CRS errors.
The research involves a multi-phase methodology: a PRISMA-ScR scoping review to synthesise global evidence, followed by a structured Delphi consensus process with international experts. The final outcome will be a validated classification and prioritisation framework to support global harmonisation in CRS misuse monitoring, education, enforcement, and design. This project offers a unique opportunity to influence global standards, policy, and practice in child passenger safety.