RESTRAINT SYSTEM USAGE IN THE TRAFFIC POPULATION

This report presents findings from four independent studies on occupant restraint use for various segments of the traffic population. Field observations, collected in 19 U.S. cities from January through December, 1984, are the basis for this report. The four studies and their findings are as follows: (1) Driver Safety Belt Use: A total of 130,207 drivers stopped for traffic signals were observed during the 12 month period. 15.3 percent were observed to wear safety belts during the last data collection period (July to December). (2) Passenger Safety Belt and Child Safety Seat Use: Findings from this study are based on 108,076 passengers observed at shopping mall entrances and exists. Child safety seat usage (for infants and toddlers) increased throughout 1984, reaching a high in the third quarter (July to December) of 49.3 percent. The percent of toddlers, subteens, teens, and adults wearing safety belts during the third quarter was observed to be 8.1, 15.2, 7.2, and 13.4 percent, respectively. (3) Safety Seat Installation Characteristics: Observations were recorded on a total of 3,476 child safety seats in vehicles parked at shopping malls and 88.1 percent were observed in the toddler mode. For toddler seats that require securing by only the vehicle safety belt, 56.4 percent were used correctly. However, only 8.7 percent of toddler seats that require the safety belt and tether were used correctly. (4) Helmet Use by Operators and Passengers of Motorcycles and Mopeds: Driver and passenger helmet use was observed to be 66.6 and 54.0 percent, respectively, for 14,898 motorcycle observations. Moped observations totalled 1,085 and helmet use among drivers and passengers was observed to be 42.1 and 35.0 percent, respectively.

• Corporate Authors:

  Goodell-Grivas Incorporated

  17320 West Eight Mile Road
  Southfield, MI  United States  48075

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Goryl, M E
  • Cynecki, M J
• Publication Date: 1985-3

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 105 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Child restraint systems; Field studies; Helmets; Manual safety belts; Moped drivers; Motorcyclists; Restraint systems; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Misuse
• Old TRIS Terms: Field observation; Occupant restraint; Tether belts
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452180
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-806 714
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-82-C-07126
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1986 12:00AM