Drivers Support Strong Belt Reminders; European Systems Could Be Model

This article explores strategies that could help make automobile passengers and drivers from part-time to full-time seat belt users. Results of a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that most motorists support enhanced seat belt reminders that are more persistent and intense than most U.S. vehicles have at present. However, the study also found that seat belt ignition interlocks would be a difficult approach to implement. The author notes that driver acceptance is important because early attempts to use in-vehicle technology to boost seat belt use backfired. The 2012 highway reauthorization law allows the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to strengthen minimum requirements for belt reminders. The author briefly explores the idea of adopting European-style belt reminders. A final section of the article summarizes the IIHS telephone surveys of 1,218 drivers and passengers about their belt use and their attitudes toward various types of belt interlocks and auditory warnings. Readers are referred to the full study, available from publications@iihs.org (Kidd et al).

Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0018988X
Publication Date: 2013-1-24

Language

English

Media Info

Media Type: Print
Features: Figures; Photos;
Pagination: pp 6-7
Serial:
- Status Report
- Volume: 48
- Issue Number: 1
- Publisher: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- ISSN: 0018-988X
- Serial URL: http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Attitudes; Audible warning devices in vehicles; Behavior; Highway safety; Ignition seat belt interlocks; Seat belt use; Seat belts; Surveys; Technological innovations
Geographic Terms: Europe; United States
Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01492183
Record Type: Publication
Files: TRIS
Created Date: Aug 22 2013 8:13PM