Under the Government Road Safety Strategy, 2004 — 2006, the National Roads Authority is tasked with carrying out national surveys in relation to seat belt wearing and traffic speeds. Survey results are used by the High Level Group on Road Safety to monitor trends, determine the effectiveness of safety initiatives and to inform the on-going review of public policy in relation to road safety. In 1999 the NRA commissioned ARUP Consulting Engineers and PMS Pavement Management Services to undertake separate surveys of free speeds in rural areas and in urban areas and also seat belt wearing rates. Three reports were subsequently published (Free Speeds on Rural Roads 1999; Free Speeds on Urban Roads 1999 and Seat belt Wearing Rates 1999). The NRA’s 2002 and 2003 Surveys of Free Speeds (Urban and Rural) and Seat belt Wearing Rates, were based on the methodology outlined in the 1999 reports. Section 1.1 below outlines some of the principal results from the 2003 survey. The principal findings on seat belt wearing in 2003: Driver seat belt wearing rates rose from71 per cent in 2002 to 85 per cent in 2003. The estimated adult rear seat wearing rate was 46%, although higher for females (49%) than males (41%). Front seat belt wearing rates averaged 68% for children attending primary school and 62 per cent for those attending secondary school. Rear seat belt wearing rates averaged 48 per cent for children attending primary schools and 44 per cent for those attending secondary schools. (Author/publisher)
Abstract