A study was conducted to assess the effect of a selective traffic enforcement program on seat belt usage. The program consisted of increased enforcement of the seat belt legislation and publication ofthis enforcement. It was predicted that during the program, there would be increases in seat belt usage and subjective probability of being apprehended in the experimental city, whereas there would be nochanges in these variables in the control city. Seat belt usage (n equals 23,910) and telephone (n equals 1,738) surveys were conductedbefore, during, 1 month after, and 6 months after the program in both cities. in the experimental city observed belt usage increased from 58% to 80% during the program, dropping to 70% 6 months after the program. Reported belt use and subjective probability also increased during the program. In the control city an increase in subjectiveprobability was observed, but there was no increase in belt usage noted. The role of subjective probability as a mediator of the effectof enforcement on driver behavior is discussed.
Abstract