The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is concerned about highway safety issues for older adults and is interested in understanding what contributes to seat belt use or nonuse among people 65 and older. This background report details the information gathered from a variety of sources addressing the older adult population and those factors that might affect seat belt use. The research included a review of literature, including experimental and quasi-experimental studies as well as qualitative documents on the cognitive, attitudinal, and physical factors that might influence the use of seat belts among older adults. Design features and the interaction between user capabilities and technology were also explored. Additionally, experts in the fields of aging, vehicle design, law enforcement, physical mobility and human factors were contacted. These individuals provided contextual information to help explain nonuse of seat belts among older adults. Analyses of several national databases, including survey, observational, and crash data addressing key issues regarding aging and seat belt use were conducted. The analyses included runs of frequencies, cross tabs of selected variables, and logistic regressions to explore the relationship between key factors and seat belt use among older adults. The information gathered in this process was synthesized in order to identify the gaps in knowledge, and to inform and support the development of strategies to increase seat belt use among older adults. (Author/publisher)
Abstract