This brief article describes the effectiveness of a "buckle- up promise card" in improving seat belt use. These cards just give brief details of the consequences of not using seat belt plus an invitation to the user to abide by a resolution to use his or her seat belt. Such cards have been distributed to college students, medical personnel and staff at a community hospital, the military personnel on a large United States Naval Base, and company employees attending a lecture or group discussion on the value of using seat belts. In every case, a significant number of "promise card" signers increased their use of seat belts following their commitment to abide by their promise. Both short and long term improvements were found. However it should be noted that the evidence for seat belt use comes from the driver, and no attempt has been made to ascertain how truthful this is.
Abstract