The VTI has been making continuous observations of car seat belt usage in a number of towns in central Sweden since 1983. The observations are made during a period of 12 days in August-September each year, primarily at traffic interchanges with a high volume of long-distance traffic, but also in urban environments. A total of just over 70,000 vehicles are observed. The observations in August 1997 show that car seat belt usage has again increased, albeit marginally, among adult rear seat passengers and to a certain extent among children in the rear seat. There is a large variation in the degree of usage. Less than 80% of drivers and front seat passengers use their seat belts on short trips in inner city environments. On journeys to and from work, seat belt usage is just over 85%. At weekends, over 95% of all drivers use their belts. The highest level of usage among drivers is observed on long-distance weekend journeys on motorways. The proportion of adults using rear seat belts is 75-80% and the proportion of children 85-90%. In a secondary study, the relation between seat belt usage and sex and age was studied. Usage is lowest, 81%, among young men. In general, women use their seat belts more than men, and older people more than young. The proportion of seat belt usage by taxi drivers is 16%. The highest level, 40%, is observed on motorways, and the lowest, 0-10%, on short journeys. The proportion of seat belt usage in heavy vehicles is 1-4% for trucks with and without trailers, about 40% in light trucks and just over 60% in car-type vehicles. Among drivers with no passengers, seat belt usage is 86.6%. If an adult passenger in the front seat uses a seat belt, the driver's usage is 94.8%. Where the passenger does not use a seat belt, the driver uses his belt in only 46-8% of the observations. This and other results show a very clear relation between drivers' and passengers' seat belt usage. (A)
Abstract