In the year 1968, the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research initiated a regular implementation of studies into the presence and use of seat belts in the front seats of passenger cars. Over the years, elements have continually been added to this research, in date order: the presence and use of child restraint systems, the presence and use of seat belts in the back seats of cars, the adjustment of head rests for drivers and passengers of cars, and the presence and use of seat belts in vans. In the autumn of 1997, a national campaign was launched to stimulate seat belt use. This study conducted during the spring of 1998 was intended to serve as an evaluation study for this campaign. This report describes the developments, between 1997 and now, of the actual and contended behaviour regarding all the listed safety devices. The most important study results reveal that since 1997: (1) the percentage of drivers and front-seat passengers in cars wearing seat belts within urban areas has stabilised; (2) the percentage of drivers and front-seat passengers in cars wearing seat belts outside of urban areas has increased; (3) the seat belt use by van occupants has increased; (4) the seat belt use by back-seat passengers has increased; and (5) that there has been no change in adjustments made to head rests. (A)
Abstract