Prompting safety-belt use in the context of a belt-use law: The flash-for life revisited
Safety-belt use reduces motor vehicle crash-related morbidity and mortality, yet an estimated 18% of drivers do not consistently buckle up (NHTSA, 2005). In 1985, Geller and colleagues developed an interpersonal Flash-for-Life prompt that increased belt use among 22% of 1,087 unbuckled drivers (Geller, Bruff, & Nimmer, 1985). The Flash-for-Life intervention was re-introduced at a large university with high safety-belt use (i.e., 80%). College students stood at parking-lot entrance/exits and "flashed" signs with the message, "Please Buckle Up, I Care" to unbuckled drivers. Results showed that of 427 unbuckled drivers observed, 30% of these complied with the prompt. Male drivers were significantly more likely to comply with prompts delivered by females. Compliance was higher than in the 1985 study, indicating a high baseline rate of safety-belt use does not negate potential beneficial influence of a prompting intervention. This intervention is particularly effective with college-aged males, a sub-group of the driving population least likely to buckle-up. A simple behavioral prompt could be used at most industrial complexes to increase safety-belt use among vehicle occupants who are not buckled-up.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1800052
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Supplemental Notes:
- Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
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Authors:
- Farrell, Leah V
- Cox, Matthew G
- Geller, E Scott
- Publication Date: 2007
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp. 407-411
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Serial:
- Journal of Safety Research
- Volume: 38
- Issue Number: 4
- Publisher: Elsevier
- ISSN: 0022-4375
- Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00224375
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Behavior; College students; Compliance; Gender; Seat belt use; Seat belts; Signs
- Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01080180
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, ATRI
- Created Date: Oct 31 2007 6:38AM