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Insurance claims data were combined with telephone survey and on-site crash investigation data to create the first large scale, child-focused motor vehicle crash surveillance system in the US. Novel data management and transfer techniques were used to create a nearly real-time data collection system. In the first year of this on-going project, known as Partners for Child Passenger Safety, over 1200 children < or = 15 years of age per week were identified in crashes reported to State Farm Insurance Co. from 15 states and Washington, D.C. Partners for Child Passenger Safety is similar in its design and overall objectives to National Automotive Sampling System (NASS), the only other population-based crash surveillance system currently operating in the US.

Insurance claims were examined for evidence of neck injuries to drivers of passenger cars struck in the rear. Neck injury rates were significantly lower for male drivers, elderly drivers, and drivers in less severe crashes. Even after accounting for differences in driver demographics and crash severity, neck injury rates were significantly lower for drivers of cars with head restraints that were more likely to be behind the heads of motorists.