RESULTS: Three-fourths of pediatricians report treating or consulting on children injured in a motor vehicle crash during the past 12 months. Pediatricians are more likely to report they had adolescent patients injured in crashes than younger patients. However, the proportion of parents/patients counseled on passenger restraint systems decreases as the child's age increases. Nearly 90% of pediatricians discuss passenger safety with most (³ 75%) patients <12 mos old, 75.9% discuss with toddlers 1-4y, 56.3% with patients 5-9y, and 48.8% and 50.3% with adolescents 10-14y and >14y, respectively. Similarly, pediatricians discuss passenger restraint systems with greater frequency among younger patients: 58.4% discuss at every preventive visit with infants and 50.9% with toddlers, however, only 4 out of 10 discuss at every well visit with older patients. When counseling infants and toddlers, most pediatricians (61.0%) provide written information to parents on the need for/choice of car seats; however, only 33.7% inform parents on proper installation and 16.5% provide hands-on demonstrations. Most pediatricians are confident in their ability to discuss the need for/choice of a restraint system with parents/patients; however, only 44.9% feel equipped to answer questions regarding proper installation. Even fewer feel they can adequately discuss choice of appropriate systems for premature infants (28.4%) or children with special needs (14.7%).