This report presents the results of a survey of vehicle occupant restraint use of Queensland in early 1993. The survey was conducted from 22 Febrary to 1 March in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Mt Ise, Emerals, Hughenden, Longreach, Roma and St George. Valid data or 42.725 vehicles and 64.436 occupants were obtained. A summary of the main findings follows: a) restraint use has not increased significantly since February 1992, and in some cases has decreased; b) the wearing rate for all vehicle occupants in 90.2%; the wearing rate for drivers (92.0%) is higher than the rate for passengers (86.6%); c) female drivers have a higher wearing rate (95.6%) than male drivers (90.0); similarly, female passengers have a higher wearing rate (89.9%) than males (82.1%); d) restraint use varies with age. The lowest wearing rate among drivers is for young adults (18-29 years) at 90.9%. Passengers ages 1 to 5 years and 6 to 12 years have the lowest rates of restraint use: 81.4% and 81.0% respectively. Infants have the highest wearing rate: 97.7%; e) front seat passengers have a higher rate of restraint use (90.9%) than back seat passengers (77.7%). Young adults (18-29 years in the back seat have the lowest wearing rate (61.7%) of all passengers. There is strong evidence of a relationship between enforcement and restraint use and there is a need in Queensland to increase enforcement levels and to develop more effective enforcement methods to target the identified low wearing rate groups. It is recommended that (1) enforcement of seat belt use be increased in Queensland; (2) enforcement tactics targeting low wearing rate categories be trialled; and (3) seat belt use in Queensland be monitored on a continuing basis.
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