Objective To examine whether parents’ decision making patterns, as measured by the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire, relate to the use of booster seats when driving their children.

Methods A cross sectional study of 398 Israeli parents of 4–7 years old children who answered a questionnaire about car safety and decision making habits.

Results Ninety percent of parents reported having a booster seat in the car; 70.5% of parents reported consistent booster seat use in general and on short drives during the last month (booster seat use compliance index). Greater compliance index was positively related to a vigilant decision-making pattern (OR=2.8; 95% C.I. 1.28–5.92), passenger compliance with rear seat belts (OR=1.9; 95% C.I. 1.11–3.22), and families with fewer children (OR=3.3; 95% C.I. 1.96–5.66). Lower booster seat use compliance index was associated with buck passing decision making pattern (OR=−0.49; 95% C.I. 0.26–0.92).

Conclusions Parents’ self-reported decision making patterns are associated with children’s car booster seat use. Health professionals and policy makers should take into account parents’ habitual decision making patterns when designing media campaigns and interventions for car booster seat compliance.