By using a literature review, consultation with traffic safety and child development experts, and focus group discussions, this project investigated strategies to increase use of safety belts among youngsters. Sixteen groups were held with children in grades 3 through 10 and parents of children in grades K through 12 in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and Buffalo, New York, states that require belt use in front seats and rear seats by children under 6 and 10, respectively. The groups were divided between users and non-users of safety belts. Participants were asked about their transition from child safety seats to safety belts, their safety belt attitudes and behavior, and their attitudes about belt use laws. Participants reacted to written and illustrated descriptions of program strategies for increasing safety belt use. Strategies covered school-based programs, enforcement, special events, parent and peer pressure programs, reminder signs and messages, insurance premuim increases for persons ticketed for non-belt use, and delays in licensing for holders of learner's permits who recieve tickets for non-belt use. Five program strategies have potential for increasing the use of safety belts by youngsters: testimonials, belt law enforcement, penalties for new drivers, informing adult drivers of need for children to use safety restraints and belts, and reminder signs and messages. Detailed descriptions of the strategies covered each program's objective, possible components, target audience, administrators, participants, sponsors, materials, special concerns, and other strategies and activities. The program recommendations were endorsed by the panel of child development and traffic safety experts who reviewed key materials during the course of the project. Two complementary program activities recommended were 1) pledge card programs in which members of the target audience make a commitment to use belt, and 2) the presentation of factual information to counter some of the improper practices, negative attitudes and myths about belts. The consensus was that a combination of strategies is most effective, with a different blend of strategies working with each age group.
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