In 2008, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) conducted a national seatbelt observational survey on Irish roads. Seatbelt usage and gender were recorded from motorists travelling along a selected sample of roads. Data was recorded from all car drivers, light goods vehicle drivers and adult front and rear passengers. Separate surveys for primary school and secondary school children travelling in the front or rear seat were also conducted. The survey was conducted among 16,413 adults occupying the front seats of vehicles, of which 13,521 (82%) were drivers. In addition, 586 adults occupying rear seats were observed. In 2008, 89% of adults (drivers, front and rear passengers) were recorded wearing a seatbelt — the highest rate recorded to date. 90% of drivers observed were wearing a seatbelt, a 2% improvement on 2007 wearing rates. Seatbelt surveys conducted in previous years revealed the following wearing rates for drivers: • 2006 and 2005 - 86 % • 2003 - 85 % • 2002 - 71 % • 1999 - 55 % • 1991 - 52 % Compared with 2007, there was no change in seatbelt wearing rates for females occupying the front seat in 2008. However, the survey showed a 2% increase in the number of males wearing seatbelts. The 2008 nationwide estimates for drivers’ seatbelt use by road type were 91% for urban national primary, 88% for urban national secondary, 89% for rural national primary, 89% for rural national secondary, 90% for regional roads and 84% for county roads. While front seatbelt wearing rates have gone up, wearing rates in rear seats in 2008 (78%) have fallen by 6% since 2007 (84%). Wearing rates for both males and females are lower in 2008 than in 2007. However, wearing rates in 2008 for rear seat belts are still higher than in 2005 and 2006. At 74%, rear seatbelt wearing rates for primary school pupils saw an increase of 4% on wearing rates in 2007 (70%). Secondary school pupils showed a more dramatic increase with a 72% wearing rate recorded for rear seatbelts, up 9% on 2007 (63%). (Author/publisher)
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